Three Friends, Three Cones, One Plan

In groups of three holding hands, children decide together the order in which they'll touch a red, a blue and a yellow cone spread around the playground, and then do it without letting go. It works on moving in sync with others, reaching agreement and finding their way around the space.

How to play

1. Form groups of three holding hands and walk around the playground without letting go (2 min).
2. The teacher gives the challenge: touch one cone of each color, in any order (2 min).
3. Before setting off, each trio decides its order, says it out loud and follows it; when done, they sit down (3 min).
4. Teacher's plan: each trio gets a card with the order drawn on it and follows it (3 min).
5. Sit down and each trio tells what plan they made and whether they followed it (2 min).

Rules

• We don't let go of hands.
• We decide the plan before we go.
• All three of us touch the cone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the trio matches the wheelchair's pace and the child in the chair holds the plan card.
• Visual impairment: trio partners name the color and guide their hand to the cone.
• Autism: same trio every time and the plan drawn on a card from round one.

Learning goals

• Move while matching pace with others.
• Agree on a plan and carry it out.
• Find their way using landmarks on the playground.

Equipment for a class of 25

• red, blue and yellow cones: 15
• color cards: 8

Teacher tip

The classic mistake is the fastest child dragging the others: remind them "the trio goes at the speed of the slowest friend." Spread each color of cone all over the playground, far apart.

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