ECSPD LogoPreschool Network News  
Volume 7, Issue 3   May 2008

Classroom Activity: Obstacle Courses

by Betty Lansdowne

An obstacle course is a fun and simple way to incorporate motor, language, and educational goals into a classroom activity. It is also an easy way to begin the collaborative teaming process as each therapist identifies skills he/she wishes to include and the teacher participates by selecting the theme.

The theme oftentimes uses a familiar, favorite book’s characters and storyline such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Eric Carle or The Three Billy Goats Gruff . It is, however, important when using a book theme that the children are very familiar with the storyline. If there are phrases repeated throughout the story like “Who’s walking on my bridge?” in The Three Billy Goats Gruff , these can be incorporated into the activity.

If The Three Billy Goats Gruff  were used, the plans for the activity might look like this:

Obstacle Course Diagram

  • Language goals include: answering questions, responding in a sentence, practicing words using articulation goals like “trip, trap”
  • Motor goals include: walking across the balance beam (forward, sidewise, etc. to meet individual child’s needs), log roll, oral motor needs (snack treat that is used could be crunchy, gelatinous, etc.), sensory input (walking on all fours, impact of log roll)
  • Education goals include: understanding the sequence of the course, understanding directions, taking a role in a story.
  • Obstacle courses can be the first activity of the day so that the set up can be done before the children arrive. It is a good activity to arouse youngsters whose systems need waking up as well as to calm those children needing that.
  • It is important that staff members are present at stations around the course to support the skill included at each.
  • Youngsters with significant motor needs can be included by playing a part such as the troll or by completing a modified course that is planned for in advance.