Walking on Sand, Mud and Ice

A pretend walk where the ground keeps changing as the teacher calls it: hot sand, sticky mud, slippery ice, or tickly grass, and each surface calls for a different way of walking. It builds a variety of locomotor moves and body control.

How to play

1. Children spread out. Tap the tambourine softly: “We’re going for a walk. Listen carefully, because the ground is going to change” (30 s).
2. “Very hot sand!” They walk quickly on tiptoes, lifting their feet as if it burns (1 min).
3. “Sticky mud!” They walk slowly, lifting knees high and pulling each foot as if it were stuck (1 min).
4. “Slippery ice!” Short sliding steps, arms out so they don’t fall (1 min).
5. “Tickly grass!” They hop and giggle, shaking their feet. Switch surfaces every 20 seconds with a tambourine hit (1–2 min).
6. Finish: “Let’s walk home on normal ground,” walking calmly and shaking sand off their feet (30 s).

Rules

• Walk without bumping anyone; it’s your own walk.
• On the ice, don’t throw yourself down: just pretend to slip.
• When the tambourine hits, listen for the new ground.
• Move the way each ground asks, no running.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: act out each surface by moving arms, hands, or the wheelchair at different speeds.
• Hearing loss: each surface has a picture card you hold up when it changes.
• More skilled kids walk backward or sideways on each surface; less skilled kids walk holding a buddy’s hand.

Learning goals

• Adjust their walking to different cues.
• Control speed, stride, and foot contact.
• Imagine and act out sensations with the body.

Equipment for a class of 25

• tambourine: 1

Teacher tip

Exaggerate each surface with your face and body: the group copies your acting. Alternate fast and slow surfaces so they don’t get too wound up.

More activities like this

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