The Little Breathing Pebble

Children curl up into a little pebble in child's pose (kneeling, forehead to the floor) and feel their back rise and fall with each breath while the teacher gently runs a hand over it. They calm down and become aware of their breathing.

How to play

1. The teacher tells about round little pebbles resting in the river and shows how to become one (1 min).
2. Become a pebble: kneeling, bottom on heels, forehead on the floor, arms back by the feet (1 min).
3. The pebble breathes: feel the back puff up when breathing in and go down when breathing out (1 min).
4. The river water flows by: the teacher gently runs a hand along each pebble's back as it stays still and breathes (2 min).
5. The pebble wakes up: roll up slowly, head last, and sit (1 min).

Rules

• Pebbles don't talk or move.
• I breathe slowly through my nose.
• I get up slowly when the teacher tells me.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: be a seated pebble, leaning forward with arms and head on a table or cushion.
• Autism: if they don't want to be touched, the water passes with a scarf without touching them, or skips them.
• Visual impairment: the teacher says something before touching the back.

Learning goals

• Calm down after activity.
• Feel the breath in the back.
• Enjoy a moment of stillness.

Teacher tip

Ask beforehand who wants the water to touch their back. If the floor is cold, put a towel or mat under the knees.

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