Solar System Gravity Stations

The class travels by spaceship to six planets, and on each one the body moves a different way: a burning-hot surface, heavy gravity, slow motion or spinning rings. Students build body control, locomotor skills and creative movement.

How to play

1. Explain the mission (2 min) and set up six stations, each with a cardstock picture of the planet; make 6 groups of 4.
2. Mercury, a hot surface: move on tiptoes with quick steps between hoops. Mars, red mountains: climb, crawl and roll on mats.
3. Jupiter, heavy gravity: walk slowly and heavily carrying a sandbag with a partner. Saturn: spin a hoop on the waist or arm, or roll it.
4. Moon, low gravity: soft jumps in slow motion. Neptune, floating in space: keep a balloon up while moving slowly.
5. Each station lasts 3 minutes; on the whistle, do a blast-off countdown and fly to the next planet with arms out like wings (18 min).
6. Return to Earth (5 min): each group shows its favorite move and everyone copies it.

Rules

• Hold sandbags close to the body and never throw them.
• One student at a time on the mats.
• Travel between planets around the outside without bumping.
• Freeze when you hear the countdown.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: does each planet from the wheelchair, such as the balloon, the hoops or moving the sandbag on the lap.
• Autism: a route map with planet pictures and a heads-up before each change.
• Lower fitness: more time on the gentler Moon and Neptune stations.

Learning goals

• Control the body with different speeds and levels of tension.
• Explore a variety of locomotor movements through a story.
• Connect movement with science knowledge.

Equipment for a class of 25

• sandbags: 4
• balloons: 6
• mats: 4
• hoops: 8
• cardstock sheets: 6

Teacher tip

Link the lesson to what they are studying in science; kids love comparing their weight on Jupiter. Keep an eye on the mat station, which gets the most crowded.

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