Marching Down the Color Road

A little regimentation in the name of laterality is no vice.

Objectives

Children participating will be able to imitate hopping, jumping, and walking fast and slow
Children ages 4-5 can match colors Cog. IIIA
ages 2-2 ½ can march to music in rhythmical response Lang. IIIB
and ages 2 can walk on line or near to it GM I

 

Materials

Big squares cut of linoleum or rubber, some painted purple and some white; small purple and white squares of construction paper; tape; marching music.

Procedures

1. In a large space, place big linoleum squares on floor in some "road-like" order, (Illustration) alternating colors. Each child tapes a small purple square on one foot and a white square on the other. Or each child can paint purple and white squares directly on his bare feet.

2. Challenge the children: Can they put the white-squared feet on the white floor squares, and the purple feet on the purple floor squares? Teacher can act as model and demonstrate. Provide marching music and have children go down the road one at a time, trying to make sure that a purple foot always steps on a purple square and a white foot on a white square.

3. Vary the activity by letting the children proceed down the road by hopping on one foot, walking very slowly, walking faster and faster, etc.

4. After everyone has had several turns, rearrange pattern of the squares on the floor.