Laundry on the Clothesline

Skill: Jump, Run
Time Required: 15
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the activity area.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.
Remind participants to stay in their area.
Equipment: Different coloured pinnies. If there are not enough pinnies or colours of pinnies then tape or clip something on the pinnies to differentiate them.
Skipping ropes
Cones
Objective:
Groups have to hang all their laundry (pinnies) on their group's clothesline (skipping rope).
Other Skills:
Speed
Coordination
Set up:
Divide participants into groups of 4-5 participants. Each group will be designated a colour pinnie or a symbol/letter on the pinnies.
Set up cones for each group that are 8-15 feet apart in a horizontal line. Could also place cones going in a vertical line from each cone, to help create sections for each group.
15 or so feet in front of those cones scatter all the different pinnies. Could have one big pile with all the pinnies and other equipment like juggling scarves or shirts to make the pile bigger.
Step by Step:
1. The goal for each group is to collect their group's pinnies and bring them to their clothesline (skipping rope) and hang them up to dry.
2. Each group will select two participants to hold their group's clothesline (skipping rope). Each participant will hold one end so that the rope is in a straight and tight line.
3. These participants cannot go in front of the two cones or past the cones or lines on the sides.
4. When the activity begins, the other participants run (hop, skip, crab walk, jump) to the pile or piles of pinnies (laundry) to try to find their group's pinnies.
5. When a participant finds one, they pick it up and run (hop, skip, crab walk, jump) to their clothesline and hang the pinnie on the clothesline (drape it over).
6. Then they run back to find another one.
7. While the participants are running to collect the pinnies (laundry), the leader will be calling out different actions the clothesline holders have to do.
8. Example of actions:
- Run on the spot
- Hop on one foot
- Hold the clothesline above your head
- Jump in the air 3 times
- Hold the end standing backwards
- Do 2 spins
- Walk away from the front cones
- And so on.
9. If any of the pinnies drop when they are doing these actions, a participant picks it up and puts it back in the pile of pinnies. Then they run to the cones and back to collect the pinnie.
10. The first group to collect and hang up all their pinnies, or the group with the most pinnies hung up at the end of the time, wins.
11. Switch clothesline holders.
Variations:
On a hot day, could spray the pinnies with water to make them wet.
Place the pinnies further away from the clothesline, and if outdoors, can scatter and hide them in different places.
If a pinnie falls off the clothesline, a participant from another team can collect the pinnie and hang it on their clothesline. The other group can only get it back if it falls of that group's clothesline and they collect it.
Use clothespins to hand up the pinnies.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.