Wall-to-Wall Wave Crossing

The whole group lines up side by side along one wall and crosses the gym together like a wave, getting over several rows of obstacles to reach the opposite wall. Everyone moves at once with no waiting. Kids work on locomotor skills and reaction.

How to play

1. Set up 4 rows of obstacles across the gym: ropes on the floor to jump, poles on cones very low, mats in a row for crawling and loose hoops to step inside.
2. Everyone stands along one wall, side by side, arms out to space themselves (1 min).
3. Tambourine: "Wave!" The whole group walks across the gym getting over each row until they touch the far wall (2 min, several waves).
4. Before each wave, call out how to cross: "cat wave" (crawl everything), "kangaroo wave" (two-foot jumps over the ropes), "quiet wave" (tiptoe) (4 min).
5. Freeze wave: halfway across, one sharp tambourine tap and the wave freezes; two taps and it moves on (3 min).
6. Last wave: very slow, like a calm sea, and at the wall they sit with their backs against it (2 min).

Rules

• Each child crosses in their own lane, no going diagonally.
• Touch the wall with your hands, no crashing.
• If someone is slow, the wave waits.
• One tambourine tap: everyone freezes.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child has a lane with ropes only, crossed in a wheelchair or walking, and the wave waits for them.
• Hearing impairment: also signal "wave" and "freeze" by raising your arms.
• More skilled: longer kangaroo waves; less skilled: cross holding a buddy's hand.

Learning goals

• Get over different obstacles continuously.
• Move with the group without bumping.
• Respond to start and stop signals.

Equipment for a class of 25

• ropes: 4
• poles: 4
• cones: 8
• mats: 5
• hoops: 10
• tambourine: 1

Teacher tip

Before the first wave, space kids out with arms open so no one is squeezed. Stand at the far end facing them so they can see you as they cross.

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