The Rope Snail Shell: In and Out
Long ropes form a big snail-shell spiral on the ground, and children walk along the rope to the center and back out. The constant turning makes them change direction little by little without losing their balance.
How to play
- Tie long ropes together into a big spiral and put a stuffed animal in the center: "This is the snail's house" (2 min).
- The teacher slowly walks the spiral on top of the rope while the children watch (1 min).
- One at a time, several steps apart, walk the rope to the center, wave to the stuffed animal and come back out the same way (4 min).
- Now go in sideways like crabs, facing the center (2 min).
- Go in carrying a small stuffed animal to keep the one in the center company, and come out without it (2 min).
- To finish, everyone holds hands around the spiral and walks slowly in a circle chanting "Snail, snail, peek your horns out at the sun" (1 min).
Rules
- I go in when the teacher says my name.
- I don't pass the friend in front of me.
- If I step off the rope, I get back on where I was.
- If someone is coming toward me, I stop and let them by.
Variations
Easier
Age 3: a wide spiral with few turns, walking beside the rope if stepping on it is hard.
Standard
Age 4: a three-turn spiral, walking on top of the rope.
Harder
Age 5: a tighter spiral, and the last stretch out is walked backward.
Adaptations
- Students who use a wheelchair: make the spiral wide so they can follow the rope with one wheel alongside it.
- Blind or low-vision students hold an adult's hand and feel the rope with a bare foot or thin-soled shoe.
- Students with autism: let them go first, when the spiral is empty and calm.
Learning goals
- Keep their balance through a continuous turn.
- Change direction gradually along a curved path.
- Wait their turn and respect other people's space.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Long ropes: 4
- Stuffed animals: 6
Teacher tip
The snail chant comes from a traditional Spanish children's rhyme ("Caracol, caracol"); use it to set the walking pace too. Leave at least one big step between the rings of the spiral so kids don't step on each other.
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