Spin While the Spinner Spins
While the arrow on a giant cardboard spinner whirls, children move freely around the space; when it stops, they do the movement in the picture it points to. It warms up the body with moving and sudden stops.
How to play
- The teacher shows the spinner: a cardboard circle with six pictures (jump, crouch, stretch, spin, clap, march) and an arrow that spins (1 min).
- Try all six movements together to learn them (1 min).
- The teacher spins the arrow, and while it spins, everyone slowly turns in place or walks in circles (1 min).
- When the arrow stops, freeze, look at the picture and do that movement until the arrow spins again (2 min).
- Last round: the spinner turns very slowly, so do we, and when it stops we sit down on the floor (1 min).
Rules
- Spin slowly so we don't get dizzy.
- When the arrow stops, so do we.
- Look at the picture before moving.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, a spinner with only three pictures, and instead of turning in place they walk in a circle.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, all six pictures, and the child who froze best helps the teacher spin next time.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the spinner also has numbers, and they do the movement that many times.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: turn the wheelchair slowly or circle the arms like windmills, and do an arm version of each picture.
- Visual impairment: the teacher names the picture aloud, and hums “whirrrr” while the arrow spins.
- Autism or sensitivity to spinning: walk in a straight line instead of turning while the arrow spins.
Learning goals
- Warm up with controlled turns and moving around.
- Stop at the exact moment the arrow stops.
- Read a picture and turn it into movement.
Equipment for a class of 25
- ruleta de cartón: 1
Teacher tip
Make the spinner big (a pizza box works) with a brass fastener for the arrow, always kept in an adult's hands. Keep spins short: after three or four turns, stop so no one gets dizzy.
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