The Snow Dog Sled

In pairs, one child sits on a blanket (the sled) and the other is the snow dog who slowly pulls it across the smooth classroom floor to the village. Kids work on pulling strength, seated balance and taking care of a partner.

How to play

1. The teacher explains that in the land of snow, dogs pull the sleds: we practice being dogs running on all fours and howling (2 min).
2. In pairs, one sits on the blanket holding its edges and the other grabs the two front corners (2 min).
3. The dog pulls the sled walking backward, nice and slow, to the village cone and back (3 min).
4. Switch: the rider is now the dog (3 min).
5. Mountain trail: the sled goes around the cones (trees) without touching them and stops when the teacher says "Whoa!" (3 min).
6. The dogs lie down to rest by their sled and the musher pets their back (1 min).

Rules

• The dog pulls slowly: there's a friend on the sled.
• On the sled I hold on tight and don't stand up.
• When I hear "Whoa!", the sled stops.
• When we finish, I switch with my partner.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: is the musher, pushed in the wheelchair by a partner, or pulls a sled with a stuffed animal from the wheelchair using a rope.
• Autism: chooses their partner and starts as the dog, the role with more control.
• Less strength: the sled carries a big stuffed animal or goes over very smooth floor.

Learning goals

• Drag a load by applying steady force.
• Keep balance sitting on a moving surface.
• Look after a partner by adjusting speed.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Blankets or large towels: 13
• Cones: 8

Teacher tip

Check that the floor is smooth and clear with no corners nearby; the sled works on linoleum or wood, never on a concrete playground. The dog always walks backward facing the sled and never runs backward.

More activities like this

More main activities for Elementary