Four Elements Movement Game

Students travel around the space and change how they move based on the element shown: fire, water, air or earth. It builds a variety of locomotor skills, attention to signals and expressive movement.

How to play

1. Prepare 4 large colored cards: red fire, blue water, white air and brown earth; mark a wide area with cones.
2. Teach each element (4 min): fire, quick running with short steps; water, gliding with wavy arms; air, tiptoe walking with arms open; earth, a slow bear crawl.
3. The teacher raises a card and everyone moves that way around the area without bumping; change every 15-20 seconds (4 min).
4. Add levels (3 min): show two cards at once and mix the movements (water plus earth: a wavy crawl).
5. In groups of 5 (4 min), one student is the leader holding the cards and the rest follow; rotate the leader every minute.

Rules

• Use the whole space, look for open areas and do not touch anyone.
• When the card goes down, everyone freezes like a statue.
• During earth, place hands down carefully so you do not step on fingers.
• The leader changes elements and does not try to tag anyone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: each element has an arms-and-trunk version, like wavy arms for water or reaching high for air.
• Hearing impairment: the game is already visual; also put the color on the leader's pinnie.
• Fitness level: fire can be an easy jog or jumping in place for students who need lower intensity.

Learning goals

• Perform different locomotor movements, changing speed and level.
• React quickly to a visual signal.
• Express movement qualities with the body.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 8
• cardstock signs: 4

Teacher tip

Build excitement by mixing quick and slow changes. If students keep bumping, split the class into two turns.

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