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Sporting short rounds of play, this Outdoor Preschool Game is perfect for the frosty winter months!
This Indoor Preschool Game is perfect when you need a game in a hurry. Gather up some books and play in a pinch!
Groundhog Day Preschool Sack Race
By Charlene HaukomPut a new spin on an old race in this Active Preschool Game! The Groundhog Day Preschool Sack Race combines Groundhog Day festivities with a traditional sack race. If you don’t have a sack, simply have your preschoolers run, hop, or skip!
What You Will Need
Safety ConePotato Sack
How to Play
1. Set up your safety cone, preferably on a sunny day.2. Line up your preschoolers and help them with their sacks. If possible, try to position your preschoolers so that the sun is at their backs.
3. Ready…get set…GO! Have your preschoolers run or hop toward the cone as they would in a traditional sack race.
4. The first preschooler to cast a shadow on the cone wins the race!
Make this Preschool Sack Race More Educational
Turn this Active Preschool Game into and Educational Preschool Game! Teach preschoolers about shadows before the race. Shadows are made by blocking light. In this case, the preschoolers are blocking sunlight with their bodies to cast a shadow. However, shadows can be made with any kind of light. Experiment with different types of light to see what kind of shadows your preschoolers come up with. For example, try using light bulbs or flashlights.You can also teach your preschoolers that shadows change depending on position and angles. What happens if the light is on the left? On the right? Behind and in front? What if the light is up high? What if it’s low? For more information on shadows, visit NASA’s article Keeping Cool with Shadows.
Variations of the Groundhog Day Preschool Sack Race
As an experiment, try setting up the Groundhog Day Preschool Sack Race differently each time. First have your preschoolers run with the sun at their backs, then with the sun behind or to the side. Or, have your preschoolers form a large circle and put the cone in the middle. Can your preschoolers figure out where they need to be to cast their shadows on the cone?Like this article? Get more like it in your inbox. Subscribe today to our free weekly newsletter.

