The Slow-Motion Spring

Children do every jump from the session in slow motion without leaving the floor: crouch very slowly, stretch very slowly, and land like a feather. The body calms down while children review the movements of a jump.

How to play

1. The teacher shows what a jump would look like in a slow-motion movie (1 min).
2. Crouch down slowly while breathing in, then stretch up slowly while breathing out (2 min).
3. Do a forward jump and a sideways jump in slow motion, without lifting your feet (1 min).
4. The spring holds still: tiptoe statue, then feet flat on the floor (1 min).
5. Sit down and quietly share which jump you liked best (1 min).

Rules

• Everything very, very slowly.
• Feet stay on the floor.
• I breathe in going down and breathe out going up.
• I speak softly when it's my turn.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: be the spring with the arms, lowering and raising them slowly from the wheelchair.
• Less balance: do the movements holding a chair or the wall.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher shows the slowness with a hand moving down and up.

Learning goals

• Calm down after jumping.
• Review the phases of a jump.
• Coordinate breathing and movement.

Teacher tip

Exaggerate the slowness like a mime—they find it hilarious and it helps them focus. It's a good moment to ask what they learned today.

More activities like this

More cool-downs for Elementary