The Disappearing Invisible Chair

Children sit on an imaginary chair and, when the teacher says it vanishes, lower their bottom to the mat and roll back in a ball without bumping. They learn how to fall into a sit safely, like when your foot slips.

How to play

1. Each child stands at the edge of a mat with their back to it (1 min).
2. Make the invisible chair: knees bent, arms forward, and hold while the drum plays (2 min).
3. "The chair disappears!": lower the bottom slowly to the mat and stay sitting with arms forward (3 min).
4. Now, after sitting, keep rolling back in a ball with chin tucked and come back up to sitting (3 min).
5. Surprise round: the drum plays for a shorter or longer time, and the chair vanishes when it stops (2 min).
6. End lying down, because the chair went on vacation (1 min).

Rules

• Our bottom goes down near our heels.
• Hands stay in front, not slammed behind.
• When rolling back, chin to chest.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: from the wheelchair, practice leaning forward and protecting the head with the arms at the signal.
• Less skilled children: an adult holds the child's hands as they lower down.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher signals the chair "flying away" with a hand gesture.

Learning goals

• Fall into a sit by bending the legs.
• Protect the head when rolling back.
• Learn a safe way to fall in everyday life.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Mats: 10
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Tell them why it matters: "If we slip on the playground, this is how we fall." The typical mistake is straight arms behind, which is how wrists get hurt.

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