The Golfer Breathes Before the Putt

Like golfers who focus before a putt, children breathe slowly, look at their ball and push it with one very slow finger. It works on cooling down, breathing and concentration at the end of the session.

How to play

1. Each child sits on the floor with their ball in front, and the teacher explains that golfers breathe calmly before they hit (1 min).
2. We breathe: puff up our tummy breathing in through the nose and let the air out slowly through the mouth, looking at the ball (1 min).
3. With one finger we push the ball as slowly as we can, as if it were falling asleep (1 min).
4. Lying on our backs, we put the ball on our tummy and watch it rise and fall as we breathe (2 min).
5. We sit up slowly and gently roll the ball back to the teacher's box (1 min).

Rules

• We talk softly, like on a golf course.
• The ball moves very, very slowly.
• I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child who can't lie down holds the ball on their lap in the wheelchair.
• Autism: if lying down is uncomfortable, they can sit hugging the ball.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher shows the breathing rhythm by raising and lowering a hand.

Learning goals

• Calm down at the end of the session.
• Control breathing on purpose.
• Focus on a very slow movement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large rubber balls: 25

Teacher tip

Dim the lights or play very soft music if you're indoors. The typical mistake is blowing hard, so ask them to let the air out "like cooling hot soup".

More activities like this

More cool-downs for Elementary