Today's Rules in Slow Gestures

During cool-down, the teacher names the rules we used today and each one becomes a slow gesture the whole group does together. Children relax and review the rules with their bodies.

How to play

1. Standing in place, breathe in while raising your arms and breathe out while lowering them (1 min).
2. Rule one, 'I wait my turn': hug your tummy, sway slowly like a tree and breathe (1 min).
3. Rule two, 'I ask first': raise your hand very slowly, like a flower growing, and lower it the same way (1 min).
4. Rule three, 'I take care of my friends': give yourself a hug, then a gentle one to the friend next to you if they want (1 min).
5. Sit down and do all three gestures in a row, slower each time, until we're still with our eyes closed (1 min).

Rules

• We make the gestures slowly, like slow motion.
• I only hug a friend if they want a hug.
• When the teacher freezes, I freeze too.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: every gesture works seated with just arms and trunk.
• Autism: swap the friend hug for a gentle palm touch if they prefer.
• Visual impairment: the teacher describes each gesture and, with permission, guides the child's hands.

Learning goals

• Cool down with breathing and slow movement.
• Review the rules practiced in the session.
• Link each rule to a body gesture.

Teacher tip

Keep the same gestures for the same rules all year: they become silent reminders on the playground. Speak softly and slow down more and more.

More activities like this

More cool-downs for Elementary