The Step Thermometer

Children move faster or slower depending on the temperature shown on the teacher's color thermometer. It builds controlling and changing speed, both gradually and all at once.

How to play

1. The teacher shows the thermometer: blue is cold and we walk shivering, orange is warm and we jog, red is hot and we run lightly (1 min).
2. Turn the thermometer up little by little: blue, orange, red, everyone together around the playground (1 min).
3. Turn it down little by little: red, orange, blue, slowing down without fully stopping (1 min).
4. Temperature jumps: the teacher goes from red straight to blue and we slow down right away (2 min).
5. The thermometer goes away: stand still and feel how warm our bodies are (1 min).

Rules

• We look at the color before we change.
• On red we run without bumping.
• On blue we go slowly even if we want to run.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: show speed with arm movements or in the wheelchair with a buddy pushing carefully.
• Visual impairment: say each temperature ("cold," "warm," "hot") and pair it with a slow, medium or fast drumbeat.
• Less coordination: on red, fast jogging in place is fine instead of running.

Learning goals

• Adjust speed to a signal.
• Slow down gradually and suddenly.
• Warm up the body before the main activity.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Color cards: 3

Teacher tip

Mark clear boundaries so running on red doesn't spill over. The typical mistake is not slowing down on blue, so exaggerate the shivering yourself.

More activities like this

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