Let's get active and try Escape the Square!
This activity is suitable for children in Early learning and childcare (ELC) or Primary 1 (Early level Curriculum for Excellence).
Watch this
Learn how to take part in the Escape The Square activity with help from primary PE teacher, Danny Denholm.
DANNY Hey, I'm Danny and welcome to Let's Do This, where we will get active together.
This activity is called Escape the Square. This game is all about communication, aim and accuracy and concentration.
You will need a partner, four balls, four cones or other small objects you can use as markers like socks.
You'll need a partner for this one, so I am delighted to have Hannah here to help me out.
HANNAH Hello.
DANNY Step one.
Mark out a square with four cones, or other markers, as the corners
Player one sits inside the square.
Step two.
Mark a distance about two big steps away from the square.
Player two sits or stands here with four balls.
Step three.
Player two rolls each ball aiming to get it inside the square
If the ball enters the square, player one should try to stop the ball with their hands and place it on top of, or next to, one of the four markers.
Step four.
When all four balls are resting on or next to the markers player one can escape the square and the players swap roles.
Now, let's do this.
NARRATOR Too tough
DANNY To make it easier, try making the square bigger so rolling the ball becomes a little bit easier.
Or player two could try standing closer to the square so they've got a shorter distance to roll the ball.
NARRATOR Go up a notch?
DANNY Want to make it a bit harder?
Player two could try rainbow throwing the ball to player one and see if they can catch it before placing the balls on the marker.
Player two could even use a tennis racket to strike the ball into the square.
Great effort, now you give it a try.
NARRATOR Danny’s challenge
DANNY Get those stopwatches ready and let's really challenge ourselves.
You have 30 seconds.
Let's see if your partner can catch all four balls and escape within that time.
It's a tough one, but I think you can do it.
Yes. Give our try. Oh. Oh, oh.
NARRATOR Final thoughts
DANNY Escape the square is a great way to enjoy working as part of a team and really improving those coordination skills of yours.
What's your favourite team game?
NARRATOR Let's do this!
What we will learn:
This activity can help young children develop their aim and accuracy.
It is a great activity to help children learn to aim and roll a ball.
What you need:
| Equipment | Alternatives |
|---|---|
| Four balls | Objects that you can safely throw, like balled-up socks or balloons |
| Four cones | Small objects that can be used as markers, like tins |
Try it yourself
Follow these step-by-step instructions and give it a go!
Image caption, Make a square
Mark out a square with four cones or other markers as the corners. Player 1 sits inside the square.
1 of 4
Playing on your own
Create a goal using cones or other markers. Practise your aim and accuracy by rolling a ball into the goal.
Maybe you can make a note of how many times you manage to get the ball into the goal or try rolling from different distances.
Make it easier or harder
We are all unique and have different strengths and skills. Some of us may find some skills easier than others but we can all develop and improve.
You can adapt Escape The Square to make it easier or harder. The most important things are giving it a go and having fun!
Make it easier
Try these tips to make the activity a bit easier.
- Try making the square bigger so it is easier to roll the ball into the target area.
- Player 2 could try standing closer to the square so they have a shorter distance to roll the ball.
Make it harder
Try these tips to make this activity more challenging.
- Player 2 can try rainbow throwing the ball to Player 1 and see if they can catch it before placing the balls on the cones.
- Player 2 could use a striking implement (like a hockey stick, tennis racket, or cricket bat) to push the ball into the square.
Danny's challenge
Set a time challenge.
- Ask someone to use a stopwatch and time you for 30 seconds.
- Can you and your partner roll and stop all four balls and escape the square in 30 seconds?
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This game is great for helping your child's listening skills and encouraging them to use their imagination.
Tiny Happy People: The iceberg game. activity
This iceberg game can help a child's language and physical development.
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