Wake Up One Side, Then the Other
Children wake up their bodies by tapping, rubbing and stretching one whole side first and then the other. They notice the body has two halves that look alike.
How to play
- Sitting on the floor, the teacher explains that half of our body fell asleep (1 min).
- With one hand, make gentle raindrop taps down the other arm, from the shoulder to the fingers (1 min).
- Keep going down the leg on that same side, rub it and stretch it like a cat (1 min).
- Now wake up the other side: arm, side and leg with the other hand (1 min).
- Stand up, stretch both sides at once and give a great big yawn (1 min).
Rules
- Taps are soft raindrops, not a thunderstorm.
- Finish one whole side before switching.
- Stay in your own spot without touching your neighbor.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, copy the teacher sitting in front of them and wake up only the arm and leg.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add the side of the body, the cheek and the ear on the same side.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, a friend picks which side to wake up by pointing to a colored sticker on the wall.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: wake up only the arms and face, or an adult helps with the legs.
- Autism: if touch is hard, rub with a scarf instead of a hand and let the child choose the pressure.
- Visual impairment: guide with your voice and gently touch the side that's next.
Learning goals
- Notice the two halves of the body.
- Move along one whole side from top to bottom.
- Get the body going calmly before playing.
Teacher tip
Model with your back to them or mirror them without naming right or left; say "this side" and "the other side." The usual mistake is jumping back and forth: insist on finishing one side before switching.
PatioLab has "Wake Up One Side, Then the Other" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More warm-ups for Elementary
«Ahora que Vamos Despacio»: The Silly-Fibs Stroll
We stroll very slowly singing the traditional Spanish song «Ahora que vamos despacio» («Now that we're going slowly, let's tell some fibs»), and on each «tralará» we…
«El Cocherito Leré»: The Hopping Carriage
We're carriages trotting around the yard, and on every «leré» in the traditional Spanish song «El cocherito leré» («the little coachman») we jump with feet together.
«Sal de Ahí, Chivita»: The Get-Out-Little-Goat Chain
The little goat won't leave the field, so in this traditional Spanish cumulative song we call the wolf, the dog, the stick, the fire, the water and the ox.
A Bandage Where I'm Tagged
A few children tag holding a scarf; anyone tagged puts on a “bandage” by placing a hand exactly where they were touched and keeps running that way, and after a second…
A Walk Through the Pole Forest
We stand plastic poles upright in cones with holes and the playground becomes a forest of tall trees.
Achoo, Into Your Elbow!
Children move around like animals and when the teacher goes “Ah… ah… achoo!”, they stop and hide their face in their elbow as if sneezing or coughing.