Tube-and-Carton Hurdles

Two upright juice cartons with a cardboard tube balanced on top make a low hurdle, and children walk, jump with feet together, and trot like horses over a row of them. It builds jumping low obstacles and linking running and jumping.

How to play

1. Build hurdles from two upright cartons with a cardboard tube resting on top; set up three or four lanes of four hurdles (2 min).
2. Walk through with high knees without touching the tube, like show horses (2 min).
3. Jump each hurdle with feet together, pausing between them (3 min).
4. Jog gently and go over the hurdles without stopping, like trotting horses (3 min).
5. Everyone invents their own way across: sideways, hopping on one foot, or very slowly backward (2 min).

Rules

• If the tube falls, I put it back.
• I start when the friend ahead has passed two hurdles.
• I stay in my lane.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child follows a parallel lane with tubes on the ground, tapping each one with a hand or foot.
• Visual impairment: wrap hurdles in bright tape and have a buddy say "Hurdle!" right before each one.
• Less coordination: lay the tubes flat on the ground and have an adult hold hands for the jumps.

Learning goals

• Jump low obstacles.
• Link running and jumping without stopping.
• Adjust step height to the obstacle.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Cardboard tubes: 16
• Empty juice cartons: 32

Teacher tip

The beauty of these hurdles is that when touched, the tube just falls off harmlessly. Space them about three child steps apart; the typical mistake is stopping dead in front of each one.

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