Exercise Breaks

How to play

Ask the children to move around the room or outdoor space like a particular animal. You may have to show the children how different animals move if they are not sure. Give the children enough time to master the movement. Before they tire, move on to the next animal movement.

Ask the children to “Move like a…”

Monkey: Hands under under-arms, Legs out wide, rocking from side-to-side as you walk

Cat: Hands and feet on the ground, facing the floor. Move right hand and left foot forward together, then left hand and right foot

Snake: Lie down on the ground on belly and slither like a snake

Bear: Hands and feet on the ground, facing the floor. Move right hand and right foot forward together; then left hand and left foot

Crab: Hands and feet on the ground with belly facing the ceiling. Move hands and feet like a crab. (Keep bottom on ground to prevent shoulder strain)

Kangaroo: With arms bent up by the chest and hands curled in front, hop forward with feet together

Bunny: Put hands and feet on the floor – hands in front. Hop feet close to hands, then hop hands out in front again.

Frog: Squat down with knees out to the sides of your arms, and leap!

Caterpillar: With hands and feet on the ground, inch along like a caterpillar

Injured Wolf: Move using only three limbs; hold the injured limb off the ground. The injured limb could be an arm or a leg

Funky Chicken: Walk with knees bent and flap them in and out sideways while arms are bent and elbows are flapping back and forth

More Challenging

Combine animals for interesting and funny movements! e.g., flap your wings like a bird and hop like a kangaroo!

Enrichment

Sing Old MacDonald Had a Farm. When you get to the part of the song that identifies an animal, ask the children to move like a… Then resume the song from where you left off!

Read From Head to Toe, by Eric Carle.

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.

Teacher’s Weekly Log Form

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.

Teacher’s Weekly Log Form