Breathe Step by Step on the Rope

With soft music playing, each child walks very slowly along their rope, breathing in on one step and out on the next. Slow walking on the line with steady breathing helps everyone calm down while still working on balance.

How to play

1. Each child stands at the start of a rope laid out straight; put on soft music (1 min).
2. Standing still, breathe in through the nose like smelling a flower and out through the mouth like blowing out a candle (1 min).
3. Take one step along the rope breathing in and the next breathing out, very slowly (2 min).
4. At the end of the rope, turn around slowly and come back with eyes half closed, looking at the rope (1 min).
5. Sit on the rope, put a hand on your belly and feel it fill up and empty (1 min).

Rules

• I go slower than a turtle.
• I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth.
• Quiet voices, listening to the music.
• One friend per rope.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with limited mobility do the breathing seated while sliding a hand along the rope like a path.
• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: the teacher shows the rhythm with hands (up to breathe in, down to breathe out).
• Students with autism get a rope set apart from the group in a quiet corner.

Learning goals

• Calm down by coordinating breathing with stepping.
• Keep their balance while walking very slowly.
• Become aware of their own breathing.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Jump ropes: 25
• Soft music

Teacher tip

Gradually lower your voice and the music. If someone rushes along the rope, walk beside them in time with your own breathing.

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