Hot-Air Balloon Ride Story
A motor story in which each student inflates their own hot-air balloon with their breath, floats over mountains, ocean, and clouds, and lands gently. It combines slow breathing and big movements to calm down in an imaginative way.
How to play
- Spread students out, sitting cross-legged inside their imaginary basket (30 sec).
- "Let's fill the balloon": breathe in through the nose while opening arms in a circle and breathe out slowly through the mouth; 5 breaths (1 min).
- "Liftoff": stand up very slowly, reaching arms up like a rising balloon, and hold for 3 breaths (1 min).
- "Over the mountains": lean to one side, then the other, stretching the sides like a balloon dodging the peaks (90 sec).
- "Over the ocean": sway gently forward and back, breathing in the sea breeze for 4 counts (90 sec).
- "Landing": the balloon loses air; slowly lower down to lie on the floor and rest 1 minute in silence on the imaginary grass (90 sec).
Rules
- Each balloon flies in its own space without touching others.
- All movements are slow, following the teacher's voice.
- Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth without blowing hard.
- Total silence during the landing.
Variations
Easier
Do the whole ride seated, moving only arms and trunk.
Standard
All five scenes with guided breathing.
Harder
Students suggest the next landscape on the ride and the slow movement that goes with it.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the whole ride can be done from a wheelchair by raising and lowering the arms.
- Hearing impairment: show each scene with a clear gesture before it starts.
- Shy students: the student can do the ride with eyes closed so they don't feel watched.
Learning goals
- Coordinate slow breathing with big movements.
- Act out the scenes of a story with the body.
- Calm down after exercise in a playful way.
Teacher tip
Speak more and more slowly as the balloon gets closer to the ground. Swap the landscapes to match what students are learning in other subjects.
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