Movement skills/concepts
Dynamic balance, static balance, space awareness, weight transfer and weight-bearing, body awareness, and relationships (with equipment).

Set-up

A variety of equipment or playground/gymnastic apparatus, such as low benches, ropes, hoops, bars, low fence, wobble boards. Also playground markings like grids, or patterns etc.
Children are spread out in a level hard or grass area.

Activity
Who can …?
• travel with only one/two/three body part(s) touching the ground – on a signal, freeze in that position and hold for three seconds
• travel around the room like a crab, or a monkey, or a bear – on a signal, freeze in that shape and hold for three seconds
• put weight on different points, (e.g. elbows, knees, head)
• put weight on different surfaces, (e.g. back, tummy side)
• move from one surface to another, (e.g. back to tummy)
• move from points to a surface, (e.g. foot to back)
• travel along lines, ropes, a line of blocks or around a hoop
• walk along a low bench/beam – stop and hold a balance for three seconds
• walk along an inclined bench
• balance on an unstable base, (e.g. wobble board)

Can you see …?
• head up – point of focus
• arms extended out to side (aeroplane arms)
• good posture – tight muscles

You can ask …
How can you keep your balance when you are walking along a line or a low bench?

Variations
Go on a balance journey: For example, travel around the room (bear walk or hopping) moving on, off, over, under and around the equipment. On a signal, balance in a certain way on the nearest apparatus (e.g. balance like a bear).

COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE

Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.