The Ladder Game

Set up a course with cones. The distance between the cones is determined by age and how familiar the group is with the activity. A distance of approximately 10–20 meters is a good starting point. Try to utilize the available area by using:

• outdoors: slopes, rocks, fallen trees, balance and climbing frames, sandbox edges
• indoors: chairs, stairs, tables, mats, etc.

The activity is carried out with a common start. Each participant receives a die which they must carry with them throughout the course. To move or run further, you must roll the die. Participants move past as many cones as the number of pips shown on the die, and possibly perform the task symbolized by the hat on the cone (for example, move forward/backward, say “cock-a-doodle-doo”, etc.). Then, roll the die again and continue.

You must pass all obstacles/ladders and reach the cone determined by the die. This continues until you reach the finish line. The first one back to the finish line wins.

On some of the cones, place Half cones. The direction the hats “point” (or their color) determines what happens at that cone:

• Hats pointing upwards (or green) can, for example, mean “move one hat forward”.
• Hats pointing downwards (or red) can, for example, mean “move one hat back”.

If you place two hats opposite each other, for example, with the bottom one pointing upwards and the top one downwards, you can introduce other types of challenges, such as:

• jump 10 times before you can move on
• stand on one leg and say “cock-a-doodle-doo”
• sing a song

• say the 5 times table aloud

In some places along the course, you can create “shortcuts” (ladders) that you can “climb up” or “fall down” from, depending on where you land with the die. These can be made with jump ropes placed between cones.

Examples:

• Cone 1: Go 1 cone back
• Cone 2: Go 1 cone forward
• Cone 3: Stand on one leg and say “cock-a-doodle-doo” / sing a song / say the 5 times table, etc.

A short rope laid out like a ladder between two points can indicate that you should walk along the rope to the other side. This can be used as a “ladder” both ways.

Variations

The activity can be varied in several ways:

• Can be done individually, in pairs, or in small groups
• Use one die, or two dice where you either:

• incorporate more complex academic tasks
• increase the distance between the cones
• add more “ladders” and obstacles
• limit the ability to talk to each other, so participants have to make more independent choices.

Examples of tasks related to the hats:

• say the 3 times table aloud
• sing a song
• answer tasks attached to the hat
• draw or color (if the activity is combined with stations)