Here is a game for toddlers and preschoolers to play to help them learn about the concept of straight lines. They will need to understand this before printing their name and numbers.

Provide a space where children can move unrestricted. If there is furniture in the room move it to the walls and use the center space, or move it all to one end.

Wait half an hour after eating to begin physical activities.

In the photo an almost 5 year old child is practicing moving in a straight line while marching.

Preparation:

Have children march or walk in straight lines forward, turn and face backward and march to where they began.

Turn to side and march forward, then turn and march or walk back to original position.

Now, it's time to play the game!

Straight lines game

Pick a beginning place to stand and show the children where the ending place is.

Tell the children that in this game they need to find the shortest and most direct way to the ending place, (which we know is a straight line).

Children practice one at a time.

Given the information that she needs to go from beginning point to ending point, the shortest way possible will result in her making a straight line.

When the straight line has been run successfully the teacher tells the group that is called a straight line.

Having each child run the shortest path, which makes a straight line, is a fun way to instill this concept.

Homepage for Toddlers and Preschoolers
How to Teach Motor Skills

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Rhythms and Dances for Toddlers and Preschoolers
How to teach toddlers and preschoolers rhythms, floor exercises, large motor skills, expressive dance, kinesthetic mini-lessons and full dances in a 98 pages including photos and illustrations.


Article and photo credit by Susan Kramer