Bottom Spinners

Sitting on a mat with knees bent, children spin on their bottoms by pushing with hands and feet, like spinning tops. It warms up the trunk and works on turning and orientation.

How to play

1. Each child sits on a mat with knees bent and hands on the floor at the sides (1 min).
2. The teacher sings "Spin, spin, little top, turn so slowly, then you stop" and everyone turns with tiny foot steps to one side (1 min).
3. On a drum beat, the top stops and spins the other way (1 min).
4. Try spinning to face something in the room: "Stop when you see the door" (1 min).
5. The tops get tired: they spin very slowly, tip onto their side and rest (1 min).

Rules

• Each top spins on its own mat.
• We spin slowly so we don't get dizzy.
• When the drum sounds, we switch directions.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair twists the upper body side to side with the song.
• Autism: tape a start mark on the mat so the child knows where each turn ends.
• More skilled children: spin hugging a cushion without letting it touch the floor.

Learning goals

• Spin on the bottom while controlling direction.
• Change spinning direction on a signal.
• Find their bearings after turning around.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Mats: 10
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Space the mats well apart, since spinning kids stick their feet out and kick by accident. Keep it to three or four turns in a row so no one gets dizzy.

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