Logs Rolling Down the Grassy Hill

On a gentle grassy slope, children become logs that roll downhill and then walk back up to roll again. It works on rolling around the body's long axis and the fun of moving in nature.

How to play

1. Check the slope with the teacher and sit at the top: 'This is the start, that's the bottom, and we walk up along the side' (2 min).
2. On flat ground, practice the log: lying down, arms stretched overhead, roll over twice (2 min).
3. In turns of four, spaced apart, children roll downhill while the others sit at the top cheering (4 min).
4. Try the log with arms tucked at the sides, and a log that 'stops' halfway if the teacher says 'Roots!' (2 min).
5. At the bottom, lie still looking at the sky and noticing if your head feels spinny before walking back up (2 min).

Rules

• We roll only when the teacher calls our turn.
• We always walk up along the side, never where others are rolling.
• At the bottom, we move away right away to make room.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child who can't roll slides down lying on a tarp that two adults pull slowly, or does rolls on flat ground with help.
• Autism: let them watch a few rounds and start rolling on flat ground; if dizziness bothers them, one roll is enough.
• Visual impairment: an adult lines the child up straight, tells them when to start and calls to them from the bottom.

Learning goals

• Perform log rolls along the body's long axis.
• Control the body while rolling on a slope.
• Wait for a turn and respect the path back up.

Teacher tip

The slope must be gentle and free of stones, dog poop or trees at the bottom; walk it first. If someone gets dizzy, let them sit for a bit: it's normal and it passes.

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