Sailors on a Wobbly Cushion

Each child has a cushion as a boat and balances on it sitting, kneeling, and standing while the teacher tells how the waves are changing. It works on static balance on a soft, unstable surface.

How to play

1. Each sailor puts their cushion boat in a space and sits on it cross-legged (2 min).
2. We come up to kneeling on the cushion, tall back, as if looking out at the horizon (3 min).
3. Brave sailors: standing with both feet on the cushion, arms out (3 min).
4. The teacher describes the sea: "tiny waves" (we hold still), "big waves" (we drop to our knees if we need to), "calm sea" (we stand back up) (3 min).
5. We reach the harbor: we lie down with our head on the cushion and rest (2 min).

Rules

• My boat is mine and I don't climb onto someone else's.
• If I fall in the water, I climb back onto my boat.
• I listen to how the sea is to know what to do.
• I get on and off slowly.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: put the cushion on the chair or the floor to sit on and work on seated balance while moving the arms.
• Hearing impairment: each kind of wave has a picture the teacher holds up (small wave, big wave, sun).
• Less skilled children: give them a thinner cushion, or fold it on top of a mat so it wobbles less.

Learning goals

• Balance on a soft surface.
• Adjust posture (sitting, kneeling, standing) to the level of challenge.
• Respond to spoken cues by changing position.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cushions: 25

Teacher tip

Use firm cushions on a rug or non-slip floor, never on smooth tile. Leave an arm's length between boats so no one bumps into anyone if they tip.

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