by Santosh | Jun 11, 2020 | Fitness Activity
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.
by Santosh | Jun 11, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Discovering swinging, space awareness and relationships (with others).
Set-up
Suitable music.
Children are spread out in a defined space in a grass or hard area.
Activity
Children discover swinging.
- Which parts of your body can you swing?
- Can you swing side to side, backwards and forwards, in circles and figures of 8?
- Who can swing high, medium and low?
- Can you swing fast, slow, increasing/decreasing in speed?
- Who can make different shapes or patterns with their swing?
- Show me an animal that
- Can you swing when kneeling, lying, sitting?
- Show me how you swing to
- Join one hand with a partner and see how many ways you can swing your joined
- How else can you swing in pairs? Try washing the
Can you see …?
- relaxed swinging
- rhythmical movements
You could ask …
Which way of swinging did you enjoy the most?
How many different ways did you swing your body parts?
Variations
Create a sequence: Make up a swinging sequence.
COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE
Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.
by Santosh | Jun 11, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Rotation, space and body awareness, relationships (with equipment), speed and flow.
Set-up
Poi, hoops, ribbons, music, ropes.
Children are spread out freely in a defined area with a chosen piece of equipment.
Activity
Can you …?
- explore different ways to rotate your piece of equipment
- vary the speed of rotation and the position of your body, (e.g. lying down, sitting, kneeling, standing)
- rotate one piece of equipment – with left and right hands
- rotate two pieces of equipment, and both simultaneously if possible
- add music, locomotion
- with one piece of equipment, explore movement in two different directions and at two different heights
- make big circles in the air, small circles, a figure 8
- be a helicopter
Can you see …?
- wrist action for small, fast movements
- arm action for large, slower movements
- loose grip to allow easy rotation
You could ask …
Which activities did you enjoy the most?
What did you do to the piece of equipment to turn it faster? Which activity was the most difficult? Why was this?
Variations
Give directions in Maori: Teki mua – in front; ki muri – behind; ki raro – below; ki runga – above.
Create a sequence: Create a short sequence or pattern.
COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE
Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.
by Santosh | Jun 11, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Rocking forwards and backwards, body and space awareness.
Set-up
Flat mats, wedge-shaped mats.
Children, each with access to a mat, are freely spaced.
Activity
Exploring rocking: How many ways can you rock? Try on your back/front. Can you rock forwards, backwards, side to side? Now try rocking with your feet crossed, legs straight, and now bent. Have you tried to rock side to side, standing, sitting, sitting astride a ball while rocking side to side?
Rocking chair: Be a rocking chair. Lie on your back, bring your knees into your chest, cross your feet and hold with your hands. Your back should be round like an egg.
Rock forwards and backwards. Now can you rock forwards and backwards to stand on your knees without letting go of your feet?
Rock to stand: In pairs, one child is the rocking chair, who rocks three times and then, on the third rock, rocks up and reaches out their hands to their partner who helps them to stand. After a few times, let the rocking chair try rocking to stand without any assistance.
Egg roll: Sit in your rocking chair position (knees bent, round back like an egg), with your chin tucked into your knees. Roll sideways so that you finish on your knees, push with your elbow and knees as you roll.
Circle egg roll: In the egg roll position, with your hands under the inside of your legs and your fingers locked around your ankles, try to ‘egg roll’ around in a circle like a rolling ball. If you get dizzy, stop, count to three and then roll back the other way.
Can you see …?
- round back
- tucked position
- chin to chest
- enjoyment
You could ask …
Which was the easiest way to roll? Why was this? Which was the hardest? Why was this?
COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE
Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.
by Santosh | Jun 11, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Turning, rotation, space and body awareness, time and energy.
Set-up
Music.
Children are spread out freely in a defined grass or hard area.
Activity
Who can rotate, turn or circle …?
- body parts – arms, legs, one at a time, both at a time
- whole body, upper body only, lower body only
- the body in space – up high, down low, forwards, backwards, sideways
- fast/slow, gradually increasing speed, decreasing speed
- strongly, weakly, gently, tightly, relaxed
- in a tall/small/bunched position
- while standing, sitting, kneeling, lying
- like a leaf blowing in a gentle wind, on a windy day and in a cyclone
Can you see …?
- having fun
- care in rotating joints – no rotation/twisting of hinge joints
Variations
Add music: Turn and move in time to the music.
Add turning like a theme: Turn, spin or rotate like a merry-go-round, a drill, a clothes line.
COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE
Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.
