Astronauts Collect Moon Rocks

The class flies a rocket to the Moon, walks in heavy boots, jumps between craters and gathers moon rocks to bring back to the ship without dropping them. It builds postural control in slow movements and a shared goal of filling the basket.

How to play

1. Put on the astronaut suit (legs, arms, helmet) and crouch inside the rocket. Count down from ten to zero in a quieter and quieter voice, and at zero jump with arms up: “Blast off!” (2 min).
2. Travel through space floating: walk very slowly around the room moving arms and legs as if they weigh nothing (2 min).
3. Moon landing. On the Moon we walk in very heavy boots, lifting knees high and setting feet down slowly (2 min).
4. The surface has craters (hoops) and mountains (mats): jump feet together from crater to crater and climb over the mountains on hands and knees (4 min).
5. Mission: collect moon rocks (paper balls) scattered around and carry them one at a time to the ship's baskets, each time a new way: on your head, in your elbow, between your knees (4 min).
6. Back to Earth: get in the rocket, count down, blast off and land sitting on the floor, taking off our helmets (2 min).

Rules

• On the Moon everything is slow: no running.
• Carry rocks one at a time.
• One astronaut per crater; if it's taken, wait or find another.
• The mission belongs to everyone: together we fill the ship.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child gathers rocks within reach and tosses them into a nearby basket; classmates bring rocks over as “mission helpers.”
• Autism: show the mission as three pictures (blast off, collect, return) and check each one off when done.
• More skilled children: carry two rocks at once in different positions without dropping them.

Learning goals

• Control posture during slow, exaggerated movement.
• Jump feet together from one space to another.
• Work together to complete a shared mission.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hoops: 10
• Newspaper balls: 40
• Baskets: 2
• Floor mats: 3

Teacher tip

Counting down in a quieter and quieter voice settles the group before every launch, so always do it the same way. Wrap the paper balls tightly with tape so they last several sessions.

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