Traveling Scarves: Toss, Spin and Catch on the Move

Students move around the space tossing and catching a juggling scarf, with challenges that get harder each round. It warms up the body and gets coordination ready for a juggling lesson.

How to play

1. Walk around the whole space, tossing the scarf with one hand and catching it with the other (2 min).
2. Toss, clap or touch a knee, and catch before it hits the floor (2 min).
3. Jog easy, toss high, spin around and catch (2 min).
4. On the whistle, toss your scarf up and catch someone else's nearby (2 min).
5. Grab a second scarf and walk while tossing them in turn, one up and one in hand (2 min).

Rules

• Look where you are walking, not only at the scarf.
• On the scarf swap, each person catches only one and nobody pushes.
• If a scarf drops, bend your knees to pick it up.
• Keep the jog easy: this is a warm-up, not a race.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with low vision: use brightly colored scarves, a clear space and a partner walking alongside as a guide.
• Limited mobility: toss from a wheelchair or standing in place; swap scarves with whoever comes close.
• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: raise a red scarf for the swap signal as well as blowing the whistle.

Learning goals

• Warm up the body progressively.
• Improve visual tracking of a slow-moving object.
• Catch with both hands while moving.

Equipment for a class of 25

• juggling scarves: 30

Teacher tip

Scarves fall slowly and give the whole group quick success, which makes them the best way to open a juggling unit. If you have no scarves, thin plastic bags or light fabric squares work.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Middle School