The Pole River Gets Wider

Two poles on the ground are the banks of a river that starts as a trickle and keeps getting wider; children jump it and choose where it's wide or narrow. They practice jumping forward and setting goals that suit them.

How to play

1. Lay several pairs of poles on the ground, close together at first, making narrow streams all over the playground (1 min).
2. Jump every river we find, feet together or in one big step, without getting wet (2 min).
3. The teacher calls “It's raining in the mountains!” and we widen each river by moving the poles a hand's width apart (2 min).
4. Make a V-shaped river: narrow at one end and wide at the other; each child chooses where to jump it and tries a bit wider each time (4 min).
5. If you land in the water, you turn into a fish and swim to the bank before jumping again (2 min).
6. Dry season: close up the rivers and walk along the poles like tightrope walkers (1 min).

Rules

• Landing in the river isn't losing: the fish swims out and tries again.
• Jump when the river is clear of friends.
• Everyone chooses how wide to jump.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: cross the narrow river by rolling over the poles in a wheelchair, or mark with a cone where each friend jumps.
• Visual impairment: use bright poles and a buddy who claps on the landing bank.
• Autism: give them their own river with widths marked by stickers to see their progress.

Learning goals

• Jump forward pushing off with the legs.
• Choose challenges that fit their abilities.
• Land with balance after jumping.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Plastic poles: 16

Teacher tip

The V-shaped river is the heart of the game: each child finds their spot and nobody compares. Chalk a mark on the bank where each child lands so they can see themselves improve.

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