Floor-Level Acrosport: Figures With Nobody Up High
Group figures where nobody leaves the floor: bridges, arches, linked planks and shared supports. Everyone can take part without fear of heights, which makes it ideal for first sessions or mixed groups.
How to play
- Demo four low figures: bridge tunnel, plank star with feet in the center, back-to-back arch, and a chain of students lying down with feet on the next person's shoulders (4 min).
- Groups of five: copy the four figures and hold each for 8 seconds (6 min).
- Linking challenge: move from one figure to the next without anyone standing up (5 min).
- Each group creates its own low figure in a recognizable shape (letter, number, object) and the rest guess what it is (5 min).
Rules
- Nobody stands on anyone else in this activity.
- Supports on partners go on shoulders, hips and feet, gently.
- Each person chooses their spot in the figure.
- Respect anyone who prefers to touch only with hands or feet.
Variations
Easier
Three-person figures held for 5 seconds.
Standard
Five-person figures linked together.
Harder
A low figure where everyone has at most two contact points on the floor.
Adaptations
- Wheelchair user: is the center of the figure and the group builds around them, with hand supports on their shoulders or on the locked wheels.
- Uncomfortable with contact: chooses plank positions touching only with the feet.
- Visual impairment: the figure is described part by part and built starting from their position.
Learning goals
- Have everyone take part in group figures with no height risk.
- Become aware of your body's position in relation to the group.
- Respect everyone's contact preferences.
Equipment for a class of 25
- gym mats: 14
Teacher tip
This works really well as a first session or with groups that don't trust each other much yet. The letter-or-number challenge hooks them: let them photograph it at the end if school policy allows.
PatioLab has "Floor-Level Acrosport: Figures With Nobody Up High" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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