Up and Down the Mountain Ramp

A low balance bench hooked onto the wall bars at a low rung becomes a mountain that children walk up and down, with mats all around and an adult beside them. It builds balance on a slope and the confidence to take on a small challenge.

How to play

1. Hook the bench onto the second or third rung of the wall bars and surround everything with mats: "We're hiking up the mountain!" (2 min).
2. Climb the ramp on hands and knees and come down sitting, scooting with your hands (3 min).
3. Walk up slowly, with the teacher alongside offering a hand; touch the "peak" (a rung) at the top and walk down sideways (4 min).
4. Walk down facing forward, with tiny steps and arms out wide (3 min).
5. Each child chooses how to go up and down: crawling, walking, sideways (2 min).
6. Sit down and share which part of the mountain felt scary and which part felt fun (1 min).

Rules

• Only one hiker on the mountain.
• I wait sitting on the mat until the teacher calls me.
• At the top, I don't jump: I come down the ramp.
• If I feel scared, I ask for a hand.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with limited mobility go up and down sitting, pushing with their arms, with an adult behind them.
• Blind or low-vision students: the adult guides their hand along the bench edge to explore it first and stays with them the whole way.
• Fearful children may stop halfway, just touch the ramp, or only crawl; no one is forced.

Learning goals

• Keep their balance going up and down a sloped surface.
• Try different ways of moving based on how safe they feel.
• Recognize and express fear and joy when meeting a challenge.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Low balance bench: 1
• Wall bars: 1
• Floor mats: 4

Teacher tip

Check that the bench hooks are firmly seated on the rung before every session. Always stand on the open side of the ramp, and don't let kids pile up at the peak.

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