The Pirate Map of Five Islands
Each pirate crew has its own hand-drawn map showing five islands in a different order: Parrot Island (climbing), Palm Tree Island (balancing), Crab Island (crawling), Volcano Island (jumping) and Cannon Island (throwing). They earn a coin on each island and finally put them in the shared treasure chest.
How to play
- The teacher shows the big map and the five islands: Parrot (low vaulting box with mats), Palm Tree (gym bench), Crab (play tunnel), Volcano (hoops) and Cannon (toss balls into a box ship) (2 min).
- The teacher visits the islands one by one, taking a cardstock coin from each island's basket (2 min).
- Crews of five with their map: they look at the drawing, decide together which island to visit first and go there; after each island, they take a coin (4 min).
- They follow their map until they have visited all five islands, waiting their turn if another crew is already on one (4 min).
- All crews put their coins in the chest in the middle and we open it together (2 min).
- Pirate party: sing a made-up chant (“Peg leg, patch and pirate hat, we found the treasure, just like that!”) and dance in a circle (2 min).
Rules
- The crew sails together from island to island.
- If an island is busy, wait on your ship (outside the station).
- One coin per island.
- Cannonballs (balls) go into the box ship.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use one map for everyone with the teacher leading from island to island; Palm Tree Island is a rope on the floor.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, groups get a picture map and an adult helps read it.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the map has numbers as well as pictures and each crew picks a captain to point the way.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: each island has a floor option (go around, touch, toss from the chair) and the child earns a coin like everyone else.
- Autism: share the map ahead of time and let the child carry it; islands always stay in the same place.
- Hearing loss: the map is visual and works on its own; to gather everyone at the chest, the teacher waves a pirate flag.
Learning goals
- Link climbing, balancing, crawling, jumping and throwing.
- Make group decisions using a simple map.
- Wait when a station is busy.
Equipment for a class of 25
- papel continuo: 5
- plinto bajo: 1
- colchonetas: 4
- banco sueco: 1
- túnel de tela: 1
- aros: 6
- pelotas: 10
- caja: 2
- monedas de cartulina: 25
Teacher tip
Draw the maps on butcher paper with the islands in different orders so crews don't all bunch up. Use big cardstock coins, never bottle caps or real coins. Keep an adult stationed at Parrot Island.
PatioLab has "The Pirate Map of Five Islands" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for Elementary
"Al Pasar la Barca" Parachute Rowing
Sitting around the parachute, children row by pulling the fabric toward them and letting it go toward the middle to the rhythm of the traditional Spanish song "Al pasar…
"Corro de la Patata" Parachute Circle
Children circle with the parachute while singing the traditional Spanish song "Al corro de la patata" (Potato Circle), and on "achupé, achupé" everyone sits down…
"El Patio de Mi Casa" Parachute Song
Children sing the traditional Spanish ring song "El patio de mi casa" while circling with the parachute and lowering it to the ground on "agáchate" (squat down).
"Que Llueva" Parachute Rain
Using the traditional Spanish children's song "Que llueva, que llueva" (Let It Rain), children make rain, clouds and sun with the parachute, and some hide underneath as…
«A la Zapatilla por Detrás»: The Slipper Behind Your Back
Sitting in a circle with eyes covered, one child walks around the outside with a slipper singing the traditional Spanish rhyme «A la zapatilla por detrás» («the…
«A Tapar la Calle»: The Chain That Blocks the Street
Half the class forms a hand-in-hand chain that walks forward singing the traditional Spanish song «A tapar la calle» («Block the street so nobody passes»), while the…