Cartwheel Levels: Star, Half, and Full

Three stations of increasing difficulty for learning the cartwheel, where each student moves up a level once a partner sees three good tries in a row. Students work on the hand-hand-foot-foot pattern, body alignment, and self-assessment.

How to play

1. Set up three stations with mats: star against the wall, half cartwheel over a rope, and full cartwheel along a straight rope. Give each pair a card listing the three levels (2 min).
2. Everyone starts at the star station: back to the wall, arms and legs wide, shift weight from one foot to one hand and then to the other hand, keeping the star shape (4 min).
3. Half cartwheel: facing the rope, place the hands on it one after the other and kick the legs up to hip height, landing back foot first (5 min).
4. Full cartwheel: the same pattern with straight legs passing over the head, placing hands and feet along the rope line (5 min).
5. The partner watches and checks off each good try on the card; 3 in a row means moving to the next station. At the end, each student records their level and next goal (4 min).

Rules

• Always look at the rope or the floor between your hands, not your feet.
• Only one person goes at a time on each mat.
• Land one foot and then the other, sideways to the rope.
• You need your partner's check mark to move up a level.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student works the star shape seated or lying down, shifting weight from one arm to the other, and serves as a judge on the cards.
• Shyness: let the student practice in a corner of the gym with a partner before showing their level.
• Fitness level: students who reach level 3 quickly work on alternating-hand timing; students with less strength repeat the half cartwheel.

Learning goals

• Perform a cartwheel with the hand, hand, foot, foot pattern.
• Line up hands and feet along a straight line.
• Judge their own level and set an improvement goal.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 10
• ropes: 6
• level cards: 13

Teacher tip

The most common mistake is placing both hands at once and bending the legs, so call the rhythm out loud: "hand, hand, foot, foot." Have students first figure out which leg in front feels most natural.

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