Partner Mirror Balances

In pairs, one student invents balance poses on one or more points of contact and the other copies them like a reflection in a mirror. The activity builds static and dynamic balance, left-right awareness, attention to a partner and movement creativity.

How to play

1. Pair students up facing each other about 1.5 m (5 ft) apart; one is the person and the other is the mirror, who copies with the opposite side: if the person lifts the right leg, the mirror lifts the left (2 min).
2. Slow mirror: the person moves slowly from one balance to the next (on one foot, on tiptoes, leaning the trunk) and holds each one for five seconds; the mirror copies without talking (3 min).
3. Switch roles with the same task (3 min).
4. Points of contact mirror: the teacher calls a number from 1 to 4 and the person creates a balance with that many body parts on the floor (hands, feet, knees); the mirror copies it (3 min).
5. Moving mirror: the person walks along a line and freezes in a balance whenever they choose; the mirror, on a parallel line, must freeze at the same moment (2 min).
6. Each pair teaches another pair their best sequence of three linked balances (2 min).

Rules

• The mirror doesn't talk: just watch and copy.
• Hold every balance for at least five seconds before changing.
• No headstands or rolls.
• Nobody laughs at a partner who loses balance: just start again.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: create and copy upper-body, arm and head balances from a wheelchair or seated on the floor.
• Autism: limit the game to three poses shown on picture cards that the pair chooses before starting.
• Low skill level: allow one finger on the wall as an extra point of support.

Learning goals

• Hold balance poses on different points of contact.
• Copy a partner's movements while keeping track of left and right.
• Create original balance sequences.

Teacher tip

Many kids copy with the same side at first, so demonstrate with a student model in front of the class. Pairs of similar ability usually have the most fun.

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