Obstacle Course
Why This Lesson is Important
The obstacle course offers students a range of physical challenges. Participating in these activities promotes exercise, sensory-motor engagement, problem-solving skills, and a fun way to explore various tasks. Additionally, it allows students to practice and refine the rhythm, movement, and coordination skills they have developed previously.
The most significant benefit of the obstacle course is that it helps students enter a physical and emotional state that enables them to participate fully and learn effectively in class!
Other benefits of the obstacle course include:
- Physical Exercise: The course enhances cardiovascular fitness and builds muscle strength through various physical challenges.
- Sensory-Motor Engagement: Students engage their senses and develop motor skills as they navigate obstacles, which improves their overall coordination.
- Problem Solving: Each challenge encourages students to think critically and find solutions as they tackle different obstacles.
- Skill Mastery: The obstacle course allows students to refine previously learned movement and rhythm skills in a fun and dynamic environment.
Obstacles can include:
- Hopping rhythm squares
- Crossing balance boards
- Crawling under tables or limbo poles
- Pogo jumps over a rope
- Stepping up and down from step-up stools
- Walking on foam pool noodles as a squishy balance beam for balance
- Pencil rolls across a mat
- Walk while balancing a beanbag on your head
- Climbing through hoops
- Box jump
- Walk on a rope on the floor with eyes closed
- Navigate some obstacles while bouncing a balloon on some kind of racket
- Dribble a ball soccer-style across a space
- Carry weights across a distance (plastic milk jugs with water work well)
- Lizard crawls, bear walks, crab walks, orangagtan walks, frog hops, etc.
- Specific hits with a pendulum ball (can also be done on a balance board)
Additionally, musical elements also include:
- Playing a specific number of beats on a kick drum or hi-hat
- Playing multiple notes across several drums
- Playing all the notes on a xylophone
- Plucking each note on a lap harp
Obstacle Course Duets
Obstacle Course Duets are a fun and engaging way to enhance social and emotional development in preschool students. This activity involves two students working together to navigate an obstacle course, fostering teamwork, communication, and cooperation.
The Obstacle Course Duet encourages teamwork. Students must navigate the course together. This brings out the best in both students! The more mature students gain value from being role models, while the less mature students benefit from having a role model.
Furthermore, performing repeated step-ups and step-downs with a partner helps both students develop stable rhythms in their drumming.
- Obstacles can also include
- Watermelon handshakes
- Fruit salad handshakes
- Bean bag passes
- Rolling or bouncing balls back and forth
- Count off and play specific rhythms together. (bucket drums on stands work particularly well)