The Sweeper Who Sweeps Feet
The teacher is a street sweeper who sweeps the floor with a pool noodle, chasing children's feet as they run away or jump the noodle so they don't get swept. It warms up the body and practices jumping and dodging low to the ground.
How to play
- The teacher shows the broom (the noodle) sweeping slowly along the floor; everyone practices jumping it with feet together as it passes (1 min).
- The sweeper starts sweeping around the space and children step out of the way (1 min).
- Now the sweeper chases: kids run away or jump the noodle; anyone swept becomes a leaf, spins once, and keeps playing (2 min).
- The sweeper picks a helper who sweeps with pretend broom hands, and they keep chasing (2 min).
- Quitting time: the sweeper puts the broom away and everyone walks slowly, stretching their arms (1 min).
Rules
- The broom only sweeps along the floor.
- I can run away or jump the broom.
- If it sweeps me, I'm a leaf that spins once, then I keep going.
- I don't step on or grab the broom.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, the noodle moves very slowly and children only jump it; nobody runs away.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, kids can run or jump, and the teacher adds a helper.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the sweeper calls “High broom!” and sweeps at knee height: duck or move away.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the sweeper sweeps beside the wheelchair and lifting feet or clapping counts as safe.
- Visual impairment: tape a jingle bell to the middle of the noodle so the child can hear where it is.
- Less coordination: stepping aside without jumping is fine, just like everyone else; jumping is not required to play.
Learning goals
- Jump with feet together over a moving obstacle.
- Dodge with quick moves.
- Wake up legs and ankles.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Pool noodle: 1
Teacher tip
Use a soft noodle and always sweep right at floor level: no hitting legs. Chant “Sweep, sweep, sweep” out loud so the 3-year-olds know when it's coming.
PatioLab has "The Sweeper Who Sweeps Feet" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More warm-ups for Elementary
«Ahora que Vamos Despacio»: The Silly-Fibs Stroll
We stroll very slowly singing the traditional Spanish song «Ahora que vamos despacio» («Now that we're going slowly, let's tell some fibs»), and on each «tralará» we…
«El Cocherito Leré»: The Hopping Carriage
We're carriages trotting around the yard, and on every «leré» in the traditional Spanish song «El cocherito leré» («the little coachman») we jump with feet together.
«Sal de Ahí, Chivita»: The Get-Out-Little-Goat Chain
The little goat won't leave the field, so in this traditional Spanish cumulative song we call the wolf, the dog, the stick, the fire, the water and the ox.
A Bandage Where I'm Tagged
A few children tag holding a scarf; anyone tagged puts on a “bandage” by placing a hand exactly where they were touched and keeps running that way, and after a second…
A Walk Through the Pole Forest
We stand plastic poles upright in cones with holes and the playground becomes a forest of tall trees.
Achoo, Into Your Elbow!
Children move around like animals and when the teacher goes “Ah… ah… achoo!”, they stop and hide their face in their elbow as if sneezing or coughing.