The Tummy Compass Finds Treasure

Lying on their tummies on their mats, children pivot by pushing with hands and feet until their head points at a treasure the teacher names. They practice turning on the floor and spatial orientation.

How to play

1. Place toys around the room near the mats, and each child lies tummy-down on a mat (1 min).
2. The teacher shows the compass: tummy on the floor, arms and legs walking like little feet to one side to turn (2 min).
3. "The compass is looking for the teddy bear!": pivot until your head points at the bear and point with your hand (3 min).
4. Turn the other way to look for another treasure (2 min).
5. A child picks the treasure and everyone finds it with their compass (3 min).
6. The compasses fall asleep pointing at their favorite treasure (1 min).

Rules

• Your tummy stays on the mat.
• Each compass turns on its own mat.
• When we find the treasure, we point and wait.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: turn the head or the wheelchair to face the treasure, or turn with an adult helping at the hip.
• Visual impairment: use treasures that make sounds (a rattle or bell the teacher shakes) so the child turns toward the sound.
• Autism: start with the child's favorite toy as the first treasure.

Learning goals

• Pivot on the tummy using arms and legs.
• Orient toward a point in space.
• Decide which way to turn.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Mats: 10
• Stuffed animals or toys: 8

Teacher tip

Leave about five feet between mats, because legs sweep wide when turning. At first many crawl forward instead of turning: "Compasses don't walk, they only spin."

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