Seat Spins and Tummy Spins

Students explore turning on different body parts on the floor: seated like a top, face down like a helicopter and on hands and knees like a merry-go-round. It works on spinning around the vertical axis, pushing with arms and legs and regaining balance.

How to play

1. Each student sits in a hoop about 6 feet from the next, on mats or a smooth gym floor.
2. Top spin (3 min): sitting with knees bent, push with the hands to spin on the seat and stop with the feet.
3. Helicopter (3 min): lying face down with arms out, push with hands and feet to spin like rotor blades.
4. Merry-go-round (3 min): on hands and knees, walk hands and knees around the hoop without leaving it.
5. In pairs (3 min): one calls the spin, direction and number of turns, and the other does it; then switch.
6. Wrap-up (2 min): each student shows their fastest spin and how they stopped it.

Rules

• Spin only inside your own hoop, never into the next one.
• Switch direction every two turns to avoid dizziness.
• If you feel dizzy, sit still and look at a fixed point.
• Keep feet tucked during seat spins so you do not kick anyone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: wheelchair spins in both directions or seated trunk turns.
• Autism: announce the number of turns in advance and mark the end with a soft clap.
• Fitness level: confident spinners link the top and helicopter with no pause.

Learning goals

• Spin while supported on different body parts.
• Create momentum with arms and legs to turn.
• Stop a spin and regain balance.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 8
• hoops: 25

Teacher tip

The floor must be smooth and clean so students slide; sweatpants work best. Alternate spins with pauses to prevent dizziness.

More activities like this

More main activities for Elementary