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.