Movement skills/concepts

Turning around a long axis, space awareness, body control, and time and energy.

Set-up

Music. Children are spread out in a general space, on a floor or hard surface that is easy to turn on.

Activity

On a signal, rotate or spin around:

• on your bottom (hands, no hands)
• on your stomach
• on your back
• tall like a flagpole
• like a screwdriver turning a screw
• like a washing machine
• like a revolving door
• to ‘tell the time’ (e.g. jump and turn to 3 o’clock)

Standing on two feet, jump with a straight body and make: a quarter (90 degrees) turn; a half (180 degrees) turn; a three-quarter (270 degrees) turn; and a full (360 degrees) turn.

Can you see …?

• change of focal point
• turning tall
• balance
• use of arms and legs to control turn

You could ask …

How does extending/moving your legs out affect your turn? What happens when you tuck/hold your body in close?

Variations

In–out game: One child is the leader making the calls. On a call of ‘Out’, children stand and turn with their hands out like a clothes line. On a call of ‘In’, they bring their hands in and spin like a ballet dancer. On a call of ‘In–out–in–out’, those who make a mistake move to the side of the area but continue the activity. The game continues until one child is left in the middle. Change leaders and repeat activity.

COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE

Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.