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Physical Education

Stepping Stones

Overview

Spots are placed on the ground like stepping stones. Children jump from stone to stone without touching the ground between them.

Learning Objective
Children develop balance and jumping accuracy by moving between marked spots on the ground.

Resources needed

  • Flat objects as spots — paper squares, flat stones, or leaves

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Lay spots on the ground in a simple path.
  2. 2 Children jump from spot to spot with two feet.
  3. 3 Land and balance on each spot before jumping to the next.
  4. 4 Try hopping on one foot between spots.
  5. 5 Change the spacing — closer together, then further apart.
  6. 6 Try jumping sideways between spots.
  7. 7 Children rearrange the spots to make their own path.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Race along the stepping stone path.
  • Two paths side by side — race a partner.
  • Name the spots — jump to the red one, then the big one.
More information

Teach: jump, land, balance, next, hop, steady. Count the spots aloud together as children move from one to the next.

Place spots very close together for children who need smaller jumps. Allow stepping rather than jumping.

Can children land and hold their balance on each spot before moving on? Are they looking ahead to the next spot before jumping?

Flat stones, large leaves, folded paper, or drawn circles in soil all work as spots. No purchased equipment needed.

Children jump past the spot and land beyond it. Teach them to look at the spot they are jumping to — not the next one ahead.

Stepping stone games appear in physical education curricula worldwide. They develop spatial judgement, balance, and confidence in jumping.

Activity details
Early Years Easy 15 minutes 5 minutes prep Whole Class, Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Balance Jumping Spatial Awareness