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.
by Santosh | Jun 11, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Falling forwards and backwards, landing on feet and body awareness.
Set-up
Benches, box tops, mats, hoops, ropes, chalk.
Children, equipment and targets are spread out in a general space.
Activity
Children move in random directions to a specified pattern (e.g. eight runs, fall forwards and freeze; or eight skips, jump to stand still, and fall backwards).
Children ‘make-believe’ they are falling and landing. Examples are:
- landing from a parachute jump
- falling from a bicycle
- falling while ice skating or rollerblading
- being tripped in a game of netball/soccer
- losing balance while walking along a steep cliff and rolling down the bank
- slipping off the monkey bars and falling on the
Can you see …?
- landing surfaces safe and even
- awareness of others
- correct techniques
You could ask …
What is the first thing you need to think about when you lose your balance or start to fall? Why is this?
Children often break an arm or collarbone when they fall. What can you do to prevent this when you fall?
COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE
Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.
by Santosh | Jun 11, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Backwards shoulder roll, body and space awareness.
Set-up
Firm mats, large balls, slopes or ramps.
Activity
Tip the boat: In pairs, players sit opposite each other on a mat in a tightly tucked position, with arms strongly wrapped around legs. One player (the tipper) places their toes under the opponent’s feet. The tipper has to tip the boat of the opponent. The opponent resists. A tip scores one point. Switch roles after three attempts.
Backward shoulder roll: Fall back and shoulder roll down a slope.
Rock the boat: Place a mat on about eight balls. While four children swivel the mat (boat), two (or three) other children sit on it, fall off (or out of) the boat and backward shoulder roll. Children can kneel or crouch as well.
Can you see …?
- head looking to one side, knees on that side close to ears
- looking at knees as they come over
- arms out to side
- falling slowly first, then with increasing speed
- landing surfaces safe and even
You could ask …
How can you land safely when falling backwards? How do you feel when you fall backwards?
COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE
Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.
by Santosh | Jun 11, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Forward shoulder roll at speed from different levels and directions.
Set-up
Slope or ramps, firm mats or suitable surface. Children are freely spaced.
Activity
Children practise a forward shoulder roll.
- fall forwards down a slope – look sideways
- from one side of a line, roll diagonally forwards to other side
- roll diagonally over elastic
- try chessboard rolling – roll from one square (or circle) diagonally forwards to the next
Can you see …?
- body extended and low
- hands flat, turned inwards
- landing with lower arm–upper arm–shoulder–back–feet
- falling and rolling slowly at first, then with increasing speed
You could ask …
How do you feel about falling forwards fast? How can you fall forwards fast but safely?
Variations
Add obstacles: Dive over a low obstacle and roll forwards.
COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE
Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.
