Slow-Motion Tag on the Moon

On the Moon there's almost no gravity: astronauts move in slow motion and the teacher-astronaut chases them just as slowly, floating; anyone tagged floats down to sit in their crater. It slows things down after active play by practicing slow, controlled movement.

How to play

1. The teacher says we've landed on the Moon and everyone carefully puts on an imaginary helmet (1 min).
2. Astronauts walk in slow motion, lifting their knees high as if floating (1 min).
3. The teacher-astronaut chases, also in slow motion; anyone tagged spins slowly and floats down to sit in their crater (1 min).
4. From their craters, seated kids wave their arms like slow antennas while the chase finishes (1 min).
5. Back to the spaceship: everyone lies down, counts down softly from five to zero, and breathes (1 min).

Rules

• On the Moon everything is slow motion.
• If I'm tagged, I float to my crater and sit.
• Nobody runs or makes loud noises.
• I move without bumping other astronauts.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: moves in slow motion their own way with their crater right beside them; arms can float, too.
• Autism: agree beforehand that the tag will be on the arm and announce it (“I'm tagging your arm!”).
• Hearing impairment: the final countdown is done with fingers held up high so it's easy to see.

Learning goals

• Move slowly with control.
• Calm down after play.
• Show the feeling of floating with the body.

Teacher tip

Model it yourself, hugely exaggerating the slowness: little ones copy your speed. If someone speeds up, say “Oops, you're back on Earth!” and have them start again slowly.

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