Grasshoppers That Land Without a Wobble

Children are grasshoppers hopping around a meadow, and on a clap they land and freeze like a photo. It warms up with jumping and works on finding static balance right after a jump.

How to play

1. The teacher shows how to land: bent legs, arms out, and still as a photo (1 min).
2. Free two-foot hops around the meadow; on a clap, they land and count "one, two, three" without moving (2 min).
3. Hiding-grasshopper landing: they land crouched with their hands touching the ground (1 min).
4. Jump forward and, on landing, lift one foot and hold (2 min).
5. The grasshoppers rest lying in the grass, breathing slowly (1 min).

Rules

• When I land, my feet stay glued to the ground.
• I hop in my own space, without bumping.
• If I wobble, I hop again and try once more.
• I jump low and land soft.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the grasshopper pushes forward with the arms from a wheelchair and brakes to a sudden stop, holding still.
• Hearing impairment: make the clap very visible with arms up high, or drop a scarf as the signal.
• More skilled children: they land inside a hoop or on a chalk mark.

Learning goals

• Regain a stable stance after a jump.
• Cushion the landing by bending the knees.
• Get the body going with short hops.

Teacher tip

Best on grass or rubber surfacing. The usual mistake is jumping too high and landing with straight legs; ask for "tiny grasshopper hops."

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