*FRIENDLY FREEBIE* Get creative in the classroom today!

SUPER SWIMS 

Category: Physical Warm-Up
Shape: Spread Out

Use their imaginations from the word go with this simple stretching exercise.


Action:
Set Up: This exercise is simply the circling of each body part starting from the head and working downwards through the body. It encourages the children to engage their imaginations from the start of the lesson.

1. Start in ‘neutral stance’. *

2. The Lighthouse (Head) – Drop the chin to the chest and slowly let the head roll around in a circle light a searchlight. (Open the mouth when the head reaches the back to ensure relaxation – not strain.) Rotate the other way.

3. Wings (Shoulders) – Imagine you’re an angel or superhero. Circle the shoulders backwards warming up those wings ready to fly into the sky. Repeat forwards.

4. Super Swims (Arms) – Swim with as many strokes as you can think of…uh oh… Shark! Swim faster!

5. Belly Frog (Torso) – You’ve swallowed a frog that’s jumping about inside trying to get out. Explore forwards, backwards, left and right. Round and round (Tricky but fun!)

6. Hula/Surfer (Hips) – Imagine you’re Hula Hooping, or pretend you’re surfing the waves.

7. The Tightrope (Legs) – Stand on one leg with your arms stretched out to the side for balance. Circle one leg slowly but don’t fall over. Swap legs.

8. Foot Mouse (Feet) – Imagine your toe is a mouse’s nose, make it look around and move in circles both ways.


Helpful Phrases:
“Lets try it in slow motion.”
“How small/big can you make it?”
“Don’t forget to keep breathing.”

Tips:


• Start slowly and build up speed once the body has had time to loosen up a bit to avoid strains.

    *Neutral stance is explained at the back of the book, but it’s standing up straight, feet apart and hands by your sides - no fidgeting.



LESSON SUGGESTIONS
Literacy

• Make up a story using some/all the actions
• Create new actions for the bodyparts and a story to go with them

Numeracy

• Use the repeated actions for counting sequence
• Count in 2’s with double arm swings

Art and Design

• Imagine you have paintbrushes tied to your hands, feet, head etc. What shapes and pictures can you paint?
• Try painting with your feet/mouth for real.

Phy Ed

• Hula championship – Try rotating an imaginary hula hoop on each body part.
• Pretend you are representing the UK in a Hula championship and throw the hoop in the air then catch on other bodyparts.

PSHE & Citizenship

• Promote body awareness & balance
• Explore left/right dexterity and physical disability in others

Science

• What things in nature go round and round?
• What man-made things go round and round and why?

                     Try it out in your classroom today and let me know how you get on.
                                     ENJOY! THANKS FOR POPPING BY :)

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