by Neetu | May 29, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Walking to different rhythms, walking on the spot, along a line, changing direction, and relationships (with others).
Set-up
Hard or grass area with lines or markings, rhythm instrument(s). Children stand scattered along a line.
Activity
Children walk on a line and change direction when they come to an intersection. When walking on a line they may meet up with someone coming towards them on the same line. If so, children walk on the spot and give partner a ‘high five’, turn and go back the way they came. Have different beats or rhythms to walk to.
Can you see …?
- pivoting on the ball of the foot when turning
- head up
- walking tall
- swinging arms waist high
Variations
Follow the leader: In pairs, one person (the leader) calls out commands, e.g. ‘Quick march’ (step out), ‘Mark time’ (march on the spot), ‘About turn’ (turn 180 degrees). Leaders are switched on ‘About turn’.
by Neetu | May 29, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Walking to a changing rhythm, walking on the spot, stopping on the beat, and relationships (with others).
Set-up
- Rhythm instrument(s).
- Children spread out in a hard or grass area.
Activity
Children practice the following activities:
- coach/teacher beats out a set number of beats, with children marching on the spot to a rhythmical pattern and starting and stopping in time with the beat, e.g. − 1 2 3 4 5 6− Start L, R, L, R, L, R Stop. Repeat.
- intersperse walking on the spot with moving
- continue as above, changing direction each time
- work in pairs, with one partner as the leader, change when walking on the spot, clap own rhythms
- ‘lift and clap’ – lift one knee up and clap underneath, repeat with the next leg
- try ‘lift and under’ (clap under the bent knee), ‘lift and over’ (clap over the bent knee)
- try walking while gently slapping hands on the top of knees
- click fingers beside lifted knee, to the call of ‘lift and click left; lift and click right’
- combine various hand actions (e.g. one clap under left knee and one clap over the right knee).
Variations
Introduce group work: In pairs or small groups, create and march to own beat/rhythms.
by Neetu | May 29, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Creative Walking, walking in different ways with expression (space and body awareness).
Set-up
A variety of music (e.g. classical, pop, children’s). Children are spread out in a defined hard or grass area.
Activity
Ask children to walk to a variety of music, moving in the way it makes them feel, using arms and facial expressions to help. Ask children to walk like they are:
- in a graveyard at night
- walking a dog
- wearing a tight miniskirt
- wearing gumboots
- in thick mud
- moving along a narrow ledge
- happy, sad, excited, angry
- a toddler with nappies on – whoops!
- a waiter carrying a tray of drinks
- a woman in high-heeled shoes
- someone who has won Lotto
- someone who has a hole in their pants!
Variations
Vary equipment: Use ribbons, scarves, poi, or ribbon balls.
Create a movement story: For example, base it on the storybook, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
by Neetu | May 29, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Sustained walking, and changing directions and levels (space awareness).
Set-up
- Outside area ideally with three points or landmarks visible from starting area and up to 50 meters apart (e.g. 1. a tree in the corner, 2. a lamp post by the corner of the hall/gym, 3. a rugby post).
- Use marker cones if no convenient series of landmarks are available.
- At each point or landmark, there are activities to do on the spot (e.g. knee lifts, star jumps, ski jumps). Children in pairs.
Activity
All pairs start walking on the spot. On ‘Go’, Partner 1 in each pair walks to the first point (e.g. a tree). On arrival, they raise one arm, which is the signal for Partner 2 to start walking towards the same point. Partner 1 then begins doing an activity on the spot.
When Partner 2 arrives, they start doing the on the spot activity while Partner 1 walks to the next point (e.g. lamp post), raises an arm to signal for Partner 2 to start walking, and then begins the next on-the-spot activity.
This sequence continues until both partners have been to each of the specified points, done all the activities, and returned to the starting point. Switch roles.
Variations
Create different sequences and activities:
Children make up their own on-the-spot activities. Children make up their own ‘point-to-point’ sequence.
Have different sequences prepared on cards or make up a walking orienteering course.
by Neetu | May 29, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Walking at different speeds, time, and energy.
Set-up
- Grass or hard surface area, with a boundary line to move to and from.
- Children in pairs or groups of three-four, with one pacesetter in each pair/group.
Activity
The pacesetter changes the pace from very slow to slow, to medium, to fast and back again. The other(s) in the pair/group walk along at the pace established by the pacesetter.
Change the pacesetter after one circuit of the course or one lap to the boundary and back, or according to the direction of the coach/teacher.
- walking tall
- arms swinging slightly
- toes pointed straight ahead
- heel-toe action
- maintaining walking action at the speed
Variations
Change walk: As well as changing pace, leaders vary the kind of walk.
Vary locomotor skill: Alternate walking with some other activity (e.g. skipping, jumping).
by Neetu | May 29, 2020 | Fitness Activity
Movement skills/concepts
Walking in different pathways, relationships (with others), walking at different speeds and levels.
Set-up
- Hard or grass area.
- Children and coach/teacher all in a circle, holding hands.
Activity
The coach/teacher:
- drops the hand of a child on one side and begins walking inwards so that the circle gets smaller and a spiral is formed
- on reaching the center of the spiral, turns around and begins leading in the opposite direction out of the spiral between the lines of children
- keeps walking until everyone is out of the
- keeping hands joined and not pulling
- steady, relaxed walk
Variations
Follow the leader: Spiral in and out without joining hands.
Add music: Spiral in and out while keeping in time with the rhythm.
