The Ride-On Roundabout

A chalk roundabout is drawn with four colored exits; children on ride-on toys or with a hoop enter when the way is clear, go around in the same direction and leave by the exit called. It builds direction sense and waiting before merging.

How to play

1. The teacher shows the chalk roundabout with a cone in the center and four exits marked in different chalk colors (2 min).
2. Try it on foot with a hoop: go in, always circle the same way and come out (2 min).
3. Ride-ons and some hoop cars go in: before entering, stop at the line and look to see if anyone is coming (3 min).
4. The teacher calls a color and cars in the roundabout leave by that exit, loop around the outside and come back in (3 min).
5. Swap vehicles and do a last calm round (2 min).

Rules

• Inside the roundabout, everyone goes the same way.
• Before going in, we stop at the line and look.
• Cars already inside go first.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child using a wheelchair enters through the widest exit and also gets the right of way when entering.
• Autism: let the child circle with just a few friends at first, then add cars gradually.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher holds up a card in the exit's color instead of calling it.

Learning goals

• Keep to one direction of travel.
• Wait and look before merging.
• Choose an exit following a cue.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Ride-on toys: 8
• Helmets: 8
• Sidewalk chalk: 6
• Cones: 4
• Hoops: 15

Teacher tip

The center cone stops kids from cutting straight across. Draw a big arrow showing the direction of travel; the usual mistake is someone going the wrong way around.

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