Starfish Around the Clock

Lying on their backs with arms and legs spread like starfish, children pivot very slowly on their backs by pushing with their heels, turning like the hands of a clock. They cool down with slow turning and breathing.

How to play

1. With soft music, everyone lies on their back on a mat with arms and legs spread like a starfish (1 min).
2. Notice which parts of the starfish touch the mat: head, hands, bottom, heels (1 min).
3. The tide moves the starfish: push little by little with the heels to turn one way (1 min).
4. The tide changes and we turn the other way, even slower (1 min).
5. The starfish curls up in a ball, breathes and sits up (1 min).

Rules

• The starfish turns so slowly you can hardly see it.
• Arms and legs stay spread.
• If we touch another starfish, we stop.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: make the starfish with the arms from the chair and turn the head slowly.
• Visual impairment: the teacher gently touches a hand or foot to show which way the tide is turning.
• Autism: place a reference object beside the mat so the child knows where they started.

Learning goals

• Relax the body after effort.
• Notice the body's contact points with the floor.
• Turn on the back very slowly and with control.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Mats: 12
• Soft music

Teacher tip

Spread the mats out, because starfish take up lots of room. Speak slowly and softly, like the sea.

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