Melting into My Puddle

Each child is a snowman inside their hoop who slowly melts in the sun until lying flat like a calm puddle. Children practice progressive relaxation and calming down after play.

How to play

1. Everyone stands inside their hoop, tall and still like a snowman (1 min).
2. The sun comes out: the head melts and drops forward, then the shoulders and arms (1 min).
3. The knees melt and we slowly sink down to sit in the puddle (1 min).
4. Lie down inside the hoop, soft as water, breathing slowly like a puddle that doesn't move (1 min).
5. The cold comes back: sit up slowly and stand up as kids again (1 min).

Rules

• I melt very slowly, no flopping down.
• I stay inside my puddle.
• Puddles don't talk: I breathe quietly.
• I get up when the teacher says the cold is back.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: melts from the wheelchair, letting the head, shoulders and arms drop into the lap.
• Autism: may stay seated instead of lying down and use a small blanket if needed.
• Hearing loss: the teacher shows with their own body which part is melting.

Learning goals

• Relax the body part by part.
• Move from tension to relaxation on purpose.
• Calm down after activity.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hoops: 25
• Soft music

Teacher tip

Lower your voice gradually throughout and lengthen the pauses between cues. If someone giggles, that's fine: "Some puddles make little bubbles," and keep going.

More activities like this

More cool-downs for Elementary