The Chair Planet and Its Moons

Each chair is a planet and the children are moons orbiting around it in different ways, switching direction and planet on a signal. It works on circling an object, changing direction and body control while turning.

How to play

1. Spread the chairs out with lots of room between them and each moon picks a planet (1 min).
2. With the music on, the moons walk around their chair with one hand on the back (2 min).
3. When the teacher calls “Switch!”, change direction and hands (2 min).
4. Orbit in other ways: sideways, on tiptoe, on all fours or crouched low like tired moons (3 min).
5. When the music stops, each moon floats slowly to another planet and starts orbiting there (2 min).
6. The moons stop, sit on their planet and slowly switch off (1 min).

Rules

• I circle my chair without pushing it.
• When I hear “Switch!”, I change direction.
• To change planets, I float by walking.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: circles a chair with plenty of room in their wheelchair, or is the sun in the middle who gives the signal.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher signals the switch by rolling their arms the other way.
• More skilled children: orbit hopping on one foot with a hand on the chair back.

Learning goals

• Circle an object in both directions.
• Change direction on a signal.
• Handle dizziness and keep balance while turning.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Chairs: 25
• Music

Teacher tip

Give each chair about a meter of clear space, outdoors if needed. If someone gets dizzy, let them stop and sit; it's normal during the first turns.

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