Movement skills/concepts

Balancing using equipment, body and space awareness.

Set-up

Hanging ropes with mats underneath.

Activity

On a hanging rope, children explore ways of balancing in an upright position.

Can you hang while …?

• supporting your weight with your hands
• supporting your weight with your hands and legs
• creating some basic shapes (e.g. wide, narrow, curled and twisted with your free body parts)
• creating symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes

Can you see …

• tight muscles
• tight grip on the rope

You could ask …

What do you need to do with your body to hold your position on the rope?

Variations

Inverted balance: If children have sufficient upper arm/shoulder strength, try an inverted balance on the hanging rope.

COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE

Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.