Warm up
Ask children to find a space and sit down. Choose a child to
describe how their body feels and how they think it will change
during the lesson.
Ask children to
show ways of moving where their bottom is touching or close to the
ground. Now move in ways where their bottom is in the air. Did
children need to change the part of the body taking weight?
Floor Work
Explain that in today's lesson children will be making up a sequence
of balancing movements. Ask children to find ways of balancing upon
different parts of their bodies. Give them time to explore different
body parts then ask some children to demonstrate while others
describe in detail what they see - the size and shape of the
movement, the part of the body taking weight, etc.
Ask children to
find a large part of their body on which to balance. Can they make
the shape of this balance different by changing the position of
arms, legs or both? Choose a few examples for demonstration and
discussion.
Can children
balance using small parts of their bodies such as knees, two feet
and one hand, one foot, one hand and one foot, knees and elbows, a
balance using their head etc. Give children plenty of time to
explore different ways then choose a number of different balances
for demonstrations. Get other children to describe in detail what
they see such as the parts of body taking weight. Emphasise the need
for making a clear shape when balancing and tightening the muscles
to hold the shape.
Ask children to
work in pairs to make a short sequence on the floor that involves
balancing on a large part of their body then moving into a balance
on small parts of their body.
Apparatus
Remind children about ways of putting out apparatus safely. Children
work in fours to put out a mat for their group and then sit on the
mat quietly.
Challenge
children to find a part of their body on which to balance so that
they can make upward movements with their feet in the air. Choose
different examples for demonstration and discussion. Did children
use a small or large part of their body on which to balance? Which
part of their body was nearest to/furthest from the ground?
Can they rock
themselves from this position, near the ground, to a standing
position? Can they add a bounce or a leap? Ask children to join the
balance with the rock and leap or bounce. Can they teach this
sequence to a partner? Ask some children to demonstrate the
sequences. Discuss the shapes made and the speed within the
sequence.
Ask children to
work with their partners to make a balancing shape in which their
bodies are joined for the start of their sequence. They then perform
their own sequences, matching each other's movements and find
another balancing shape where bodies are joined to end the sequence.
Choose some couples to demonstrate their sequences and combined
balances. Children could discuss the difficulties of working with a
partner.
Cool Down
Ask children to lie on their backs and stretch their bodies out so
they become as long as they can make them. Stretch from their finger
tips to toes. Now gently lift the legs and hug them against the
chest, tightening the muscles throughout the body. Repeat a few
times then ask children to relax while the teacher reminds children
about skills learnt in today's lesson.
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