how to create an obstacle course for class

by Rex Stamm 4 min read

  1. Design Your Obstacle Course. Spend some time thinking about and researching obstacle courses. What are you looking for in your course?
  2. Gather Your Supplies. After you’ve designed your obstacle course, its time to think about the supplies you need. ...
  3. Build Your Course. Once you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s time to get to work! With pipe and Kee Klamp fittings, the building process is fairly simple and straightforward.
  4. Enjoy! Now that you’ve designed and created your own obstacle course, have some fun! ...

Full Answer

How to make a rainy day obstacle course?

SUPPLY LIST:

  • White posterboard – 3
  • White card stock
  • Black construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Laminator – optional
  • Balloons
  • Red yarn
  • Invisible Ink Pens with Light
  • Post-it Notes
  • Large cardboard box

More items...

How to properly prepare for an obstacle course race?

You should know:

  • Whether you want to run a short race or long race
  • How challenging the distance is for you right now
  • Your basic level of fitness (how much training do you need to do?)
  • Do you have the ability to complete the obstacles?

How to set up an obstacle course in your backyard?

Part 1 of 3: Planning the Obstacle Course Download Article

  1. Find a good space for the obstacle course. Before you can begin planning the details of your obstacle course you will need to find a good location to build ...
  2. Think about who will be using the obstacle course. Not all obstacle courses are created the same. ...
  3. Start planning out your obstacle course. ...
  4. Consider legal concerns. ...

How to make a boot camp obstacle course?

With Strength Stack 52, designing a bootcamp is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

  1. Find a park or outdoors pace with natural obstacles
  2. Shuffle the Stack 52 deck and draw as many cards as you need for your bootcamp
  3. Place the cards at various stages in your bootcamp location.

How do you make a homemade obstacle course?

0:292:13DIY Dollar Store Backyard Obstacle Course - HGTV Handmade - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCourse you're going to need a few solar garden lights a couple of pole noodles. And duct tape thisMoreCourse you're going to need a few solar garden lights a couple of pole noodles. And duct tape this way we'll be able to make a tunnel for your little one to army crawl through.

How do you make an obstacle course at school?

Here are a few ideas to get you started on building an indoor obstacle course for your kids:Crawl under or over a row of chairs.Crawl under a string stretched between two chair legs.Jump into and out of a Hula-Hoop five times.Walk on a balance board.Throw a beanbag into a laundry basket.More items...

What should be included in an obstacle course?

An obstacle course is a series of challenging physical obstacles an individual, team or animal must navigate, usually while being timed. Obstacle courses can include running, climbing, jumping, crawling, swimming, and balancing elements with the aim of testing speed, endurance and agility.

How do you make an obstacle course with household items?

0:322:35INDOOR OBSTACLE COURSE! | DIY Dad - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThrough the action figures. Then you're going to crawl through. Them. And then somehow the floorMoreThrough the action figures. Then you're going to crawl through. Them. And then somehow the floor turned to lava. So you have to skip across the pillows.

What is the best obstacle course for kids?

Best Backyard Ninja Courses For KidsB Branton Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course for Kids. ... Flybold Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course Line. ... Topnew 12 Ninja Tree Climbing Holds for Kids. ... Dripex Ninja Warrior 65' Obstacle Course for Kids. ... X XBEN Obstacle Course Kids 50' Slackline Kit. ... Jungle Highline Kids Obstacle Course.More items...•

How do you make an outdoor children's obstacle course?

0:214:44DIY Backyard Obstacle Course | LIFE HACKS FOR KIDS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSet your tubes in a row like. This in the course run across the tubes making sure that your feet areMoreSet your tubes in a row like. This in the course run across the tubes making sure that your feet are in the middle of the holes.

How do you make an obstacle?

0:356:39How to Make an Obstacle Course for Your Kids in Your BackyardYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo i know that my post will be in line and square it's a good idea to put some concrete at theMoreSo i know that my post will be in line and square it's a good idea to put some concrete at the bottom of the hole. Before you put your posts. In that way the post is sitting on the concrete.

What is the objective of an obstacle course?

Outdoor obstacle courses help children solve problems as they learn how to maneuver up, over, or through obstacles. They also learn how to adjust to changing conditions and memorize the fastest way to progress through the course. These skills will help them throughout their life.

How many types of obstacles are there?

Different types of obstacles include physical, economic, biopsychosocial, cultural, political, technological and military.

How can I make Ninja course at home?

0:576:30How to Build a Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course! DIY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd the first thing I want to do is dig the holes for your posts you want to make sure that theseMoreAnd the first thing I want to do is dig the holes for your posts you want to make sure that these are at least two and a half feet deep I secured mine with a 2x4 held them in place.

How do you make a ropes course in your backyard?

0:119:01Backyard Ropes Course 2: Platforms - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCourse I decided that I was going to build them with a six foot by six foot surface. Area of eachMoreCourse I decided that I was going to build them with a six foot by six foot surface. Area of each square. So there's a six foot platform you can see there in our backyard zipline.

How do you make a ninja course for kids?

0:313:55DIY Backyard Ninja Course For Kids - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then I added a rope up there to climb up. Then we took the slide down. I added on a couple extraMoreAnd then I added a rope up there to climb up. Then we took the slide down. I added on a couple extra 4x4 posts and got some monkey bars I can put a link in the description to where I got those.

What is an obstacle course?

An obstacle course, much like stations, combines a variety of different skills and movements to create a larger challenge for students to complete. There are two big goals that your obstacle course creations should try to accomplish:

Why are students engaged in obstacle courses?

Students who are struggling or dislike certain activities may also be more engaged during obstacle course lesson plans because they are completing many different tasks during the same time period.

What can you make with reclaimed materials?

The Balance Beam. Here’s another one you can make with reclaimed materials. Keep it safe and secure, but you can use a fallen log or pallets to create this for your obstacle course. Make It Simple: If you’re not able to find materials to make a true balance beam, then create something on the floor using tape!

Who is Stacy Tornio?

Stacy Tornio is a freelance writer with a focus on education. She's an author of nearly 20 books, including many educational family titles. Nearly everyone in her family is a teacher. So she decided to be rebellious and write about teachers instead.

How to make an obstacle course for kids?

Try these variations to make your obstacle course more challenging: 1 Change directions and start from the finish line. 2 Time children (or yourself!) to see how long it takes to complete the course. 3 Balance a marble or plastic egg on a spoon and weave your way back through the course. 4 Use your non-dominant hand for any throwing activities. 5 Try completing the course while carrying a water balloon or a stuffie.

How to make a rope maze out of stumps?

Step, step, step across them, or roll one through the grass. Use the stumps as anchors to create a rope maze to belly crawl under. 5. Any kind of ball.

How to jump through a hula hoop?

Hula hoops. Tie a hula hoop to a tree branch or clothesline to jump through, lay hoops on the ground in a row or pattern where kids must hop or step from one to next, or hold the hoop in two hands and skip with it. You can even try making your own hoops. Find more games here.

How to do a crab walk?

Crab walk or bear crawl through a rainbow of hoops, practice movement skills while hopping on one foot or jumping through taped-together rings on the ground, zig-zag through vertical noodles stuck in the ground, and work on throwing with a giant target game.

What is a skipping rope?

A skipping rope can be the starting line for a standing broad jump, an easy tightrope when placed on the ground, or used in a game of riverbank. 9. Water bottles. Fill up plastic water bottles or milk cartons to use as bowling pins. Place the bottles in two rows and use any large round ball to try to knock them down.

Can you use chalk to make an obstacle course?

If you don’t have the luxury of a yard or grassy area, you can still work on balance, jumping, and agility using chalk to make an obstacle course on a driveway or an (empty) sidewalk. There are so many ways to get active and have fun outside while still practicing physical distancing.

The Guide

Pick your spot and gather materials: Find a spot with plenty of room to move outside (or inside). Gather a variety of household items (chair, couch cushions, blanket, rope) and/or objects from nature (logs, nature treasures) that your child can use for their course.

Why is this activity great for kids?

Obstacle courses are a great way to inspire active, imaginative play. Designing the course supports kids’ creativity and problem-solving skills. As kids move their bodies and heads in different ways throughout the course, they activate their vestibular and proprioceptive senses, the senses responsible for balance, coordination and focus.

Creativity

By creativity, we mean the ability to both imagine original ideas or solutions to problems and actually do what needs to be done to make them happen. So, to help kids develop creativity, we parents need to nurture kids' imaginations and give them lots of chances to design, test, redesign and implement their ideas.

Problem Solving

When we talk about problem solving, we mean the ability to solve a problem in which the solution is not obvious and in which the possible paths to solution are many. To solve such problems, kids will need two things. First, they’ll need the self confidence and comfort to both attempt to find and persist in finding a solution.

Active Lifestyle

At the end of the day, there is nothing more important than our kids’ health. From our perspective, children cannot enjoy good health without an active lifestyle that incorporates regular, physical activity as well as time spent in nature. And, we can only influence how they use their time for a short part of their lives.

Sensory

Although some scientists classify as many as 20 senses, when childhood educators talk about "developing the senses," we typically mean developing the five standard senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.

Kee Klamp Fittings and Obstacle Courses

Before you design and construct your obstacle course, take some time to think about what you want out of this equipment.

DIY Obstacle Course Ideas

This project was created for the Miami Freerunning and Parkour Academy. It could easily be incorporated into an intense obstacle course. To create a similar project, gather Kee Klamp fittings, pipe, and 30 to 60 Degree Single Socket Tee fittings for added stability. We recommend using a rigid and thick pipe for the longer sections of the course.

How to Build Your Own Obstacle Course

Did you find some inspiration? Great, now let’s get started on the project.

Build Your Own Obstacle Course Today!

We know that it can seem overwhelming to create your own obstacle course. Hopefully, this post helped you see that, with the right tools, creating an obstacle course is possible. Soon you could be achieving your own American Ninja Warrior dreams!

Start with basic movement skills

Give students the chance to explore the playground equipment differently by asking them to find different ways to use the spaces.

Get creative with the equipment

A bench doesn’t have to be for sitting—it can be a place to jump from. Crawl like a bear up the slide or climb the fireman’s pole instead of going down it.

Start pulling all the elements together

If your students are like mine, by this point they have probably come up with all kinds of creative challenges on the playground. Now it’s time to up the ante and challenge them to create an obstacle course for the rest of the class to try.

Conduct trials and test runs

In our class, students worked in small groups of two to three, but bigger groups of four to five kids could work well too.

Weave in some STEAM

You can incorporate some math and art into your unit too. Challenge older students to sketch a bird’s-eye view of the playground. They could also calculate the perimeter and area, and label the various equipment. Students can then indicate on their sketches where each activity is to be performed.

Bring it to other classrooms

If your class is having fun with this, why not challenge the other kids at school?

Take it further: Make it a school-wide competition

Now that your students have come up with so many cool ways to move, can you get the whole school involved in creating something? Maybe each class could create an obstacle course to provide to the other classes.

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