The Butterfly Resting in My Hand

Each child holds a paper butterfly on an open palm and changes position very slowly so it doesn't fly away. It's a cool-down with slow breathing and fine balance control.

How to play

1. Sitting on the floor, each child gets a butterfly and rests it on an open palm (1 min).
2. We breathe slowly, without blowing on the butterfly, so it doesn't get scared (1 min).
3. We come up to our knees very slowly without the butterfly moving (1 min).
4. Standing with the arm stretched out, we stay still like a tree where it has landed (1 min).
5. The butterfly moves to our head and we slowly lower down to sitting (1 min).
6. Lying down, the butterfly rests on our belly and rises and falls with our breathing (1 min).

Rules

• I move so slowly the butterfly doesn't even notice.
• I don't blow on my butterfly.
• If it falls, I pick it up gently and keep going.
• I talk in a butterfly voice: very quietly.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the butterfly travels from palm to forearm to shoulder to knee, from the chair.
• Visual impairment: use a slightly heavier felt butterfly so it's easy to feel on the skin.
• Autistic children: they can choose their butterfly's color and keep it at the end.

Learning goals

• Change position slowly and with control.
• Keep a light object still on the body.
• Relax with calm breathing.

Equipment for a class of 25

• paper butterflies: 25

Teacher tip

Cut out the butterflies ahead of time from slightly heavy paper. Dim the lights and speak very softly: your voice sets the pace of the whole activity.

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