Blowing Dandelion Seeds

Children run to pick imaginary dandelions, blow them with one long breath, and then become the seeds themselves, floating around the playground and landing softly. It warms up the body by combining running, blowing, and creative movement.

How to play

1. In a circle, the teacher shows how to blow a dandelion: breathe in through the nose and let the air out long and soft through the mouth, so the seeds don't all fly off at once (1 min).
2. With music on, children run around the playground looking for dandelions; when the music stops, they pick one from the ground and blow it with a long breath (2 min).
3. Now the children are the seeds: the teacher blows hard and they run and spin with open arms all over the playground (1 min).
4. The wind dies down: the seeds float slower and slower and land crouched in a little ball wherever they fall (1 min).
5. Each seed grows into a new dandelion, slowly rising until standing with arms up (1 min).

Rules

• I blow long and soft, no rush.
• When I'm a seed, I fly without bumping anyone.
• When the wind calms down, I land softly.
• I listen to the music to know what's next.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the seed flies by moving the arms from the chair and "lands" by resting hands on the knees.
• Visual impairment: the child holds a buddy's hand when being a seed, and the teacher describes the wind out loud.
• More skilled children: try to keep blowing for a whole short run from one hoop to another.

Learning goals

• Practice a long, controlled exhale.
• Warm up with running and spinning.
• Shift from fast movement to slow movement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Music

Teacher tip

In spring, if there are real dandelions on the playground, start by blowing one; the pretend play follows naturally. Remind them that seeds spin slowly, because fast spinning makes kids dizzy.

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