Raising the Big Top

Children are circus crew arriving in town who put up the big top together: carrying poles, hammering stakes, pulling ropes and lifting the canvas. They warm up by switching between strength and loosening up, getting ready for the circus obstacle course.

How to play

1. Move around the space carrying very heavy poles on one shoulder with slow, strong steps (1 min).
2. Hammer in the stakes: strong stomps, switching feet to the beat of the drum, slow and then faster (1 min).
3. Pull the ropes: standing with feet apart, pull back with both hands, first to one side, then the other, then let go (1 min).
4. In a circle, squatting and holding hands, lift the canvas together by rising very slowly up onto tiptoes with arms high (2 min).
5. The big top is up: drop hands, shake out the whole body and clap so the show can begin (1 min).

Rules

• Poles are heavy, so we walk slowly.
• When the drum stops, we stop stomping.
• The canvas only goes up if we all rise together.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: in the circle, a child in a wheelchair lifts with the arms while classmates hold hands at their level.
• Autism: warn before the loud stomps; if noise is a problem, hammer the stakes by patting the thighs.
• Different skill levels: a child who tires can be the ringmaster and keep the beat on the drum.

Learning goals

• Alternate tightening and relaxing the muscles.
• Coordinate a group movement in the circle.
• Warm up legs and arms before the obstacle course.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pandero: 1

Teacher tip

Lifting the canvas works best if you count out loud from one to five. If someone yanks the circle, stop and repeat more slowly: it is a team job.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Elementary