We Build the Chair Train

Each child learns to carry their chair safely and together they line them up into one long train; then the train travels and stops at stations where the passengers get off to move. It works on carrying a chair safely, cooperation and pretend play.

How to play

1. The teacher shows how to carry a chair: both hands on the sides of the seat, legs down, in front of your tummy, walking slowly (2 min).
2. One at a time, each child carries their chair and places it behind the last one to build the train; the teacher is the station master (3 min).
3. Everyone sits and the train starts: “Choo-choo” with the arms, lean into the curves, duck your head in the tunnels (2 min).
4. Beach station: get off, swim and jump the waves around the train; at the bell, everyone goes back to any chair (2 min).
5. Snow station and jungle station: get off, move like you're there and return to the train at the signal (2 min).
6. Last stop: the train gets home and each child carries a chair back to its place the way we learned (1 min).

Rules

• We carry the chair with two hands and the legs pointing down.
• On the train, bottoms stay seated until it stops.
• When the bell rings, I go back to the train and sit in any car.
• Nobody stands on a chair.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: their wheelchair is the engine or the caboose, and a classmate carries a chair for them.
• Hearing impairment: the return to the train is also signaled by flicking the lights.
• Autism: show the station picture cards beforehand in the order of the trip.

Learning goals

• Carry a chair safely.
• Work together to build something as a group.
• Act out places through movement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Chairs: 25
• Whistle or bell: 1

Teacher tip

Light preschool chairs can be carried alone; heavy ones go in pairs. The usual mistake is carrying it by the back with the legs sticking forward, so fix that before anyone starts walking.

More activities like this

More main activities for Elementary