Movement skills/concepts

Static and dynamic balance, body awareness, space awareness and relationships (with others).

Set-up

Children are spread out in a defined area on a hard or grass surface.

Activity 1: Connecting yourself

Children walk freely about the area. On a signal, they stop and listen to the coach/ teacher calling out two body parts, which each child then has to join together.

Examples: elbow to knee, hand to foot, foot to foot, hand to shoulder, head to hand, knee to ankle, foot to head.

Activity 2: Connecting in pairs

In pairs, children travel around the area in a designated way (e.g. walking or skipping) while joined together (linking arms).  On a signal, the pairs connect to each other by the body parts called by the coach/teacher. Examples: two feet (one foot from each partner in the pair), two hands, one foot, and one knee, one shoulder and one head, one elbow and one hip, one ankle, and one knee.

Can you see …?

• head up – focused on an object or spot
• tight muscles

You could ask …?

What do you need to do with your body to maintain your balance?   How can you and your partner work together to maintain your balance?

Variations

Vary the way of traveling around in space: Use different dynamic balance activities, (e.g. kangaroo walk, crazy crab, monkey walk).

Vary body shapes and levels: Include narrow/wide-body shapes and low/medium/ tall levels.

COOL DOWN/ CLOSURE

Review Skill/Activity, stretching, and questions.