The Otter Paddles on Its Back

Lying face up on the bench like otters floating down a river, kids move along by holding the edges and pushing with their feet until they reach the shore. It builds awareness of the body in an unusual position and coordination of arms and legs without seeing where they're going.

How to play

1. The teacher puts mats on both sides of each bench and one at the end (the shore) with a stuffed-animal fish waiting (2 min).
2. We try being still otters: sitting at the start of the bench, we lie back face up, head in the middle, and look up at the ceiling sky (1 min).
3. We paddle with our feet: knees bent, feet flat on the bench, pushing little by little toward the shore (3 min).
4. We paddle with our hands: we grab the edges above our heads and pull (3 min).
5. We paddle with hands and feet together; at the shore the adult lets us know, we sit up and hug the fish before leaving it for the next otter (3 min).

Rules

• Otters go slowly: the river's in no hurry.
• Your head always rests on the bench.
• At the shore we sit up before getting off.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child does the same trip face up on a mat on the floor, pushing however they can with adult help.
• Autism: if lying face up on the bench is too much, start lying on the mat next to it and copy the others.
• Visual impairment: the adult gives a soft tap on the bench to show where the shore is.

Learning goals

• Move along face up on a narrow surface.
• Coordinate pushing with the legs and pulling with the arms.
• Build confidence in an unfamiliar position.

Equipment for a class of 25

• banco sueco: 3
• colchonetas: 7
• peluches: 3

Teacher tip

Always keep an adult at the end of each bench, ready to signal with a hand on the shoulder. The usual mistake is lifting the head to look, so say: "Otters look at the sky; I'll tell you when you're there."

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