The Giant Whipped Cream Cake

From a low bench, children jump with feet together onto the thick crash mat, which is a whipped cream cake, landing with bent knees and then sitting down. They practice jumping down and absorbing the landing.

How to play

1. Place the bench snug against the crash mat with mats around it; the teacher says we're going to "decorate the cream cake" (1 min).
2. On the floor, practice the baker's landing: jump in place and land with bent knees and arms forward (2 min).
3. Taking turns, climb onto the bench, jump with feet together onto the cake, land standing and sit down (4 min).
4. Each baker becomes a decoration on landing: a strawberry curled up, a candle standing tall, or a cookie lying flat (4 min).
5. Put hoops on the crash mat and jump into the one you choose (2 min).
6. Sitting on the crash mat, "eat the cake" and take a few breaths (1 min).

Rules

• One baker jumps at a time.
• After you land, climb off to the side and get back in line.
• Jump with feet together, never head first.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: an adult helps the child sit on the bench and scoot down onto the crash mat.
• Visual impairment: the teacher holds the child's hand and counts "One, two, three" before the jump; the crash mat always stays in the same place.
• Autism: keep a picture card of the steps (climb, jump, sit, get off) in view.

Learning goals

• Jump down with both feet at once.
• Land with bent legs.
• Respect turns and clear the mat quickly.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Thick crash mat: 1
• Low gym bench: 1
• Mats: 4
• Hoops: 4

Teacher tip

The bench must be steady and tight against the crash mat; stand right beside it. The typical mistake is landing with straight legs: "Bakers land like springs."

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