The Yarn Trail Across the Classroom

The teacher strings a line of yarn around the classroom, past table legs and chair backs, and the children follow it with one hand like explorers who mustn't get lost. It works on orientation, following routes between furniture and paying attention through touch.

How to play

1. With the yarn already strung at waist height (tied to table legs and chair backs, no crossings), the teacher walks it in front of everyone to show how to follow it (2 min).
2. Tell the story: we're explorers in a cave and the yarn leads us to the way out (1 min).
3. Follow the route in a line with one hand on the yarn, watching where you go (3 min).
4. Second trip: duck where the yarn dips low and tiptoe where it goes up (3 min).
5. Blind trip: eyes closed or a hand over them, very slowly, with a buddy behind keeping watch (3 min).
6. At the end, wind the yarn back into the ball together (1 min).

Rules

• My hand always stays on the yarn.
• Slowly: no stretching or pulling the yarn.
• With my eyes closed, I walk very slowly and my buddy looks after me.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the yarn runs along wide aisles so they can follow it in their wheelchair.
• Visual impairment: this is their star game; let them go first and set the pace.
• Autism: they can always go last and open their eyes whenever they want.

Learning goals

• Follow a route between furniture.
• Find their way using touch and sight.
• Move carefully in an enclosed space.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Ball of yarn: 1
• Tables: 6
• Chairs: 25

Teacher tip

Use thin yarn that snaps if someone pulls hard, tie it with a bow, and never string it at neck height. Any chairs you tie the yarn to must be pushed against a table so they don't get dragged.

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