My Shadow Wakes Up

On a sunny playground, each child finds their shadow and wakes it up one body part at a time: hands, then arms, legs, and finally the whole body with jumps. It warms up the body while children discover that their shadow does everything they do.

How to play

1. With your back to the sun, find your shadow on the ground and wave hello: “Good morning, shadow!” (1 min).
2. The shadow wakes up its hands: wiggle your fingers, open and close your hands, and watch the shadow do it too (1 min).
3. Now it yawns: stretch your arms way up and out to the sides, slowly, and watch the shadow get super long (1 min).
4. Its legs wake up: march in place with high knees while watching the shadow’s legs (1 min).
5. The shadow is wide awake: do little hops, then big jumps so it jumps with you (1 min).
6. Walk around the playground and wave at your friends’ shadows without stepping on them (1 min).

Rules

• Look at your shadow, never at the sun.
• Everyone wakes up their own shadow.
• When walking, leave room for friends’ shadows.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: in a wheelchair, the shadow wakes up with arms, head and trunk; turning the chair to see it works too.
• Visual impairment: a buddy describes their shadow and guides their hand to feel the sun warming their back.
• Autism: preview with a photo of a shadow on the ground and always follow the same order of body parts.

Learning goals

• Warm up the body step by step.
• Recognize the shadow as a copy of their own movements.
• Name and move body parts.

Teacher tip

Do this early or late in the day, when shadows are long and easy to see. Teach the “never look at the sun” rule from day one: position children with their backs to the sun yourself before starting.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Elementary