The Two Riverbanks

A rope on the floor is a river, with red cones on one bank and blue cones on the other. Children jump to the bank the teacher names and discover that the side changes depending on which way they face.

How to play

1. The teacher lays the rope down, puts red cones on one bank and blue on the other, and everyone lines up along the river (2 min).
2. When the teacher calls "Red!" or "Blue!", jump with feet together to that bank (3 min).
3. If the teacher calls "River!", walk along the rope like tightrope walkers (2 min).
4. Turn around to face the other way and keep going: where is the red bank now? (2 min).
5. The teacher asks "Which hand is closest to the red bank?" and we raise it (2 min).
6. Cross the river one last time hopping on one foot, whichever you like (1 min).

Rules

• Jump to the bank the teacher calls.
• If you get it wrong, just hop again: nobody is out.
• Everyone jumps in their own bit of river without bumping.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child rolls to the named bank or points toward it.
• Hearing loss: the teacher holds up a red or blue scarf instead of calling it out.
• Visual impairment: a classmate holds their hand; each bank has its own sound (drum on one side, clapping on the other).

Learning goals

• Place oneself on one side or the other of a reference line.
• Discover that sides change when the body turns.
• React to a signal by jumping with control.

Equipment for a class of 25

• long rope: 1
• red cones: 4
• blue cones: 4
• hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

With a big group, use two parallel ropes so kids don't bunch up. It's fine if some still don't get why the side changes when they turn: that's exactly what they're building.

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