The Beetle That Flips Over

Lying on their backs with arms and legs in the air like beetles stuck upside down, children look for different ways to flip over onto their tummies. They practice rolling over and solving movement problems.

How to play

1. The teacher explains that beetles sometimes get stuck on their backs and don't know how to flip; let's help them figure it out! (1 min).
2. Everyone on their backs on a mat, wiggling little legs in the air (1 min).
3. Each child tries to flip over any way they can; the teacher names the ways she sees (3 min).
4. Try friends' ways: bringing a knee across, reaching an arm over, or rocking in a ball (3 min).
5. Now the beetle flips over without using hands (2 min).

Rules

• One beetle per mat.
• Every way is OK as long as no one gets hurt.
• Once the beetle is on its tummy, it crawls to another leaf (mat).

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: try the flip with an adult guiding knee and shoulder, or wiggle legs in the air from the chair.
• Autism: show one specific way with a picture and let the child repeat it as many times as they like.
• Visual impairment: the teacher describes the move with touch: "Your knee travels to my hand."

Learning goals

• Roll from back to tummy in several ways.
• Discover their own movement solutions.
• Copy and try friends' solutions.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Mats: 10

Teacher tip

Don't give the answer at first: let them try, then name what they do ("Lucy uses her knee"). That recognition makes everyone want to try it.

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