My Chair Is a Horse, a Boat and a Rocket

Without leaving their chairs, children ride a horse, sail a boat and blast off in a rocket, moving legs, arms and trunk to match each ride. It wakes up the body in a small classroom while building seated balance and trunk control.

How to play

1. Everyone sits all the way back in their chair with feet flat on the floor, and the teacher shows the “ready to travel” position (1 min).
2. Horse: grab the reins, trot with your feet on the floor and lean forward when the horse gallops (1 min).
3. Boat: row with your arms and sway side to side when the waves come, keeping your bottom on the seat (1 min).
4. Rocket: count down by patting your knees, blast off by reaching to the ceiling, then float slowly in space (1 min).
5. The teacher switches rides faster and faster — “Horse… boat… rocket!” — and everyone changes moves (1 min).
6. Landing: lower your arms, rest your hands on your knees and let your breath out like a rocket powering down (1 min).

Rules

• Your bottom stays stuck to the chair the whole trip.
• The waves move your body, not your chair.
• When the teacher says “Landing!”, hands go on your knees.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility or wheelchair users: ride in their own chair and do only the arm and trunk moves.
• Autism: show a picture card of each ride before switching.
• Hearing impairment: each ride has a big signature gesture from the teacher (reins, rowing, arms up) visible from every seat.

Learning goals

• Warm up the body without moving around a small space.
• Keep seated balance while moving the trunk and arms.
• Change movements when a new cue is given.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Chairs: 25

Teacher tip

Check beforehand that no chair wobbles and that chairs are an arm's length apart. The usual mistake is rocking the chair instead of the body during the boat ride, so make it clear the chair legs never leave the floor.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Elementary