The Playground Gas Station

Each child is a car jogging around until it runs low on gas and slows down more and more; then it pulls into the gas station to fill up and heads out again full of energy. It works on a gradual warm-up and pacing effort.

How to play

1. The teacher places four cones in the corners: these are the gas pumps. We explain that cars use up gas when they run (1 min).
2. Start your engines: everyone jogs gently around the playground holding an imaginary steering wheel (1 min).
3. The teacher says "You're running out of gas!" and the cars slow down more and more until they almost stop (1 min).
4. Each car goes to a pump, plugs the hose into its tummy and goes "glug, glug, glug" while taking three deep breaths (1 min).
5. With a full tank, we jog a bit faster; repeat the use-up-and-fill-up cycle two more times (2 min).
6. Last fill-up, then we drive at a walk back to the circle (1 min).

Rules

• At the gas station we wait our turn without pushing.
• When we fill up, we breathe slowly.
• We drive without bumping into other cars.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child using a wheelchair goes at their own pace with a pump close to their area.
• Autism: use a card with three pictures (fast car, slow car, gas pump) that the teacher points to at each change.
• Asthma or lower stamina: the child can fill up whenever they want and stay longer at the pump.

Learning goals

• Warm up the body with an easy jog.
• Notice tiredness and recovery.
• Control running speed.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Cones: 4
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

This is a nice moment to talk about how our body gets tired and recovers by breathing. Watch that no one races to reach the pump first: there's room for everyone.

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