The Rung Rolling Die

A child rolls the giant die and, depending on the dots (1, 2 or 3), the kids whose turn it is climb that many rungs on the wall bars, counting out loud, then climb down. It practices controlled climbing, counting and taking turns.

How to play

1. The teacher sets up the die with faces 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 and puts mats under the wall bars (2 min).
2. We review how to climb: hand, foot, hand, foot, and how to come down facing the bars (2 min).
3. A child rolls the die and the three or four on the wall bars climb that many rungs, counting (6 min).
4. Coming down, we count backward: "Three, two, one, floor!" (2 min).
5. Together we figure out which number came up most (2 min).

Rules

• I only climb as many rungs as the die says.
• I count backward on the way down.
• Everyone rolls once before anyone rolls again.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: rolls the die and counts out loud for everyone; walks hands up the rungs from the chair.
• Visual impairment: a die with raised dots or textured stickers.
• Autism: knows ahead of time how many kids are before their turn.

Learning goals

• Climb a set number of rungs.
• Connect quantity and movement.
• Take turns rolling and climbing.

Equipment for a class of 25

• espaldera: 1
• colchonetas: 6
• dado gigante: 1

Teacher tip

Never more than three rungs even if someone asks: this is a very-low-height activity. One adult for every two kids on the wall bars.

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