The Starfish Stretches and Curls

Lying on their backs, children are starfish who stretch out arms and legs like five points, then curl into a little ball, slower each time. It works on full-body stretching and switching between tension and relaxation.

How to play

1. Lie face up on the sandy sea floor, spread out so our points don't touch (1 min).
2. Open your arms and legs: we're five-pointed starfish; stretch way, way out as if touching the walls (1 min).
3. A wave comes and the starfish curls up: knees to chest, arms hugging legs; then starfish again; four times, slower each time (1 min).
4. Stretch one point at a time: one arm, the other, one leg, the other, and the head, which is the fifth point (1 min).
5. The starfish stays open and soft, resting on the sand, breathing slowly (1 min).

Rules

• I stretch without hurting myself.
• I curl up slowly, without rolling.
• My points don't touch other starfish.
• At the end I stay still.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: done seated, opening and closing arms and upper body.
• Visual impairment: mark their space with a small mat and guide the first stretch by hand.
• Hearing loss: show the waves by lowering a hand in a wavy motion.

Learning goals

• Stretch the whole body with control.
• Tell stretching apart from curling up.
• Relax in an open position.

Teacher tip

Make sure there's plenty of room between kids before arms go out. Count the waves in a slower and slower voice to bring the pace down.

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