Movement skills/concepts
Static balance, body and space awareness.

Set-up
Mats.
Children, each with a mat, are spread out in a defined area with an even surface.

Activity
Who can balance while making …?

• narrow/wide/twisted/curl shape with your body in a standing position
• the same shape as above but resting on other part(s) of the body, (e.g. a wide shape while your hands and feet are on the ground)
• wide shape with your upper body and a narrow shape with your lower body
• twisted shape with your upper body and a curled shape with your lower body
• symmetrical/asymmetrical shape
• shape at different levels – low, medium and high
• the shape of a letter of the alphabet, (e.g. X, T, C, F, I, L, O, V, Y)
• number shape, (e.g. 7, 6, 2)
• the shape of the first letter of your name or your favourite number

Can you see …?
• children being creative
• tight muscles
• balancing like a statue – not moving
• eyes up

You could ask …
Which body shape made it easy to balance? Could you be pushed over in that shape?
Which body shape made it easy to be pushed over?

Variations
Create a shape story: Make up a travelling shape story, (e.g. move from a wide shape to a twisted shape to a curled shape). Keep the transitions smooth.
Make group shapes: As a small group, form simple three or four-letter words, (e.g. OAR, BIRD, SUN, CAT, MAN).

COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE

Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.