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Physical Education

Cloth Games

Overview

Children hold the edges of a large cloth and work together to create movements and play games.

Learning Objective
Children develop cooperation and gross motor skills through shared cloth activities.

Resources needed

  • Large cloth or sheet (any size)
  • Small balls or stones

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 All children hold the edge of the cloth.
  2. 2 Wave it up and down together — slow, then fast.
  3. 3 Lift high together, then pull down tight.
  4. 4 Place a ball on top and keep it moving without it falling off.
  5. 5 Try to pop the ball into the air and catch it back on the cloth.
  6. 6 One child runs under the cloth while others wave it.
  7. 7 Cool down: everyone holds still and lowers the cloth slowly to the ground.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Two balls at once.
  • Sort different coloured objects to different sides.
  • Children take turns calling the actions.
More information

Teach: lift, lower, wave, together, fast, slow. Use counting aloud to coordinate group movements.

Smaller groups with a smaller cloth work just as well. Children can sit and wave the cloth at ground level.

Are children watching each other and coordinating? Do they adjust their effort to match the group?

Any large piece of cloth, an old sheet, or several smaller pieces tied together works. No parachute needed.

Children pull the cloth toward themselves instead of lifting it. Teach them to think about lifting up together, not pulling.

Cloth games develop cooperation, timing, and shared effort. They are highly inclusive as no individual skill is required.

Activity details
Early Years Easy 15–20 minutes 5 minutes prep Whole Class Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Cooperation Movement Fun