The Body-Car Checkup Shop

Before hitting the road, each child is a car going through the repair shop: eyes are headlights, arms are windshield wipers, legs are wheels. Children move each body part in order and start the session calmly.

How to play

1. In a circle, the teacher explains that today we are cars, and before driving we need a checkup at the shop (1 min).
2. Check the headlights: open and close our eyes, look side to side without turning our body (1 min).
3. Check the wipers: arms out, swinging side to side, first slowly and then fast like it's pouring rain (1 min).
4. Check the wheels: circle the ankles, lift the knees up and down and jog in place (1 min).
5. Check the horn and the brakes: say "beep beep" with a finger on our nose, and when the drum sounds, we brake and freeze (1 min).
6. Car approved! Walk around the space and stop at every drum beat (1 min).

Rules

• We check each part slowly, no banging.
• When the drum sounds, the car brakes and freezes.
• We drive without touching other cars.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair checks headlights, wipers and horn, and the chair's wheels become the car's wheels, rolling slowly.
• Autism: post a picture of the car with the matching body part for each piece, always in the same order.
• Hearing impairment: along with the drum, the teacher raises an open palm to mean "brake".

Learning goals

• Name and move different body parts.
• Warm up the body gradually.
• Respond to a stop signal.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Always go top to bottom: headlights, wipers, wheels. The usual mistake is kids taking off as soon as they hear "car"; make it clear the car can't leave until the shop approves it.

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