Slow Landing on the Moon

After all those launches, the rockets land very slowly on the Moon to the teacher's slow countdown, until they are lying still like floating astronauts. It practices lowering the heart rate and controlling the body in slow motion.

How to play

1. Standing, hands together over the head, we are rockets coming home from a trip (1 min).
2. The teacher counts down very slowly from ten to zero: with each number the rocket sinks a little, bending the knees, until sitting (2 min).
3. On the Moon, the astronaut lies on the back and floats weightless: arms and legs loose (1 min).
4. Breathe like an engine shutting down: in through the nose and out slowly, "Fffff," three times (1 min).
5. Slowly shake out hands and feet to brush off the Moon dust, then sit up (1 min).

Rules

• I go down as slowly as the teacher counts.
• We make no noise on the Moon.
• I float still in my own spot.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair lands by slowly lowering the arms and resting the head on the hands.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher also counts on fingers, lowering them one by one.
• Autism: if the child doesn't want to lie down, they can float sitting and hugging their knees.

Learning goals

• Calm down after intense activity.
• Control the body with very slow movements.
• Practice calm breathing.

Teacher tip

Lower your voice with each number. If someone reaches the floor too early, tell them their rocket "ran out of fuel" and to float and wait.

More activities like this

More cool-downs for Elementary