Tricycles Through Chalk Town

A small town is drawn in chalk on the playground with streets, intersections and buildings; some children ride tricycles or ride-on toys and the rest use a hoop as an imaginary car. Children practice steering along the road and staying on the right side.

How to play

1. Before the session, the teacher draws two-lane streets, a couple of intersections and a few buildings (bakery, school, park) in chalk. We all walk through it together (2 min).
2. Riders put on helmets; children without a vehicle grab a hoop as a steering wheel (2 min).
3. Free driving: everyone uses the streets, always in the right lane, staying inside the chalk (4 min).
4. The teacher calls out a place ("To the bakery!") and everyone figures out how to get there along the streets (3 min).
5. Swap: hoop drivers get on the tricycles or ride-ons, and riders take a hoop (3 min).
6. Everyone parks at the edge of town and takes off their helmet (1 min).

Rules

• We drive on the right side of the street.
• Wheels don't go on the buildings.
• If someone is in front, we brake.
• Helmets stay on until we park.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child using a wheelchair drives on the wide streets, and the streets they use are drawn wider.
• Visual impairment: mark streets with rope taped to the ground too, with a buddy driving alongside.
• Autism: post a drawn map of the town and start on a quiet street with no intersections.

Learning goals

• Steer a vehicle along a set path.
• Keep to the right.
• Find their way in a space with familiar places.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Tricycles: 8
• Ride-on toys: 6
• Helmets: 14
• Sidewalk chalk: 15
• Hoops: 12

Teacher tip

Make the lanes wide enough for a tricycle with room to spare: at least 3 feet per lane. Set clear vehicle turns from the start to avoid squabbles: "you now, you next."

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