Your Beanbag, My Beanbag: The Path

In pairs, children take turns placing beanbags one at a time to build a path where each beanbag touches the last, then walk it very slowly, stepping on each one. It works on calming down, turn-taking and deciding together.

How to play

1. In pairs, each with four beanbags, find a quiet spot (1 min).
2. Take turns, your beanbag then mine, each one touching the last (2 min).
3. Decide together if the path goes straight or curves (1 min).
4. Walk our path very slowly, stepping on each beanbag and breathing out with each step (2 min).
5. Tiptoe over to visit another pair's path, then put the beanbags back in the basket (1 min).

Rules

• I place one and wait for my turn.
• Every beanbag touches the last one.
• We walk slowly on the path.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: place beanbags from the wheelchair and follow the path by touching them with a hand.
• Autism: a "your turn / my turn" picture card the pair passes back and forth.
• Visual impairment: follow the path by feeling the beanbags with bare feet or hands.

Learning goals

• Take turns with a partner.
• Make shared decisions.
• Calm down with slow movement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• beanbags: 50
• basket: 1

Teacher tip

If a pair is arguing, give them one extra rule: whoever places the first beanbag picks the curve. Ask them to keep their path in their own spot without crossing others.

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