Exercise Breaks

How to play

Instruct children to jump around the room when the music is playing like an animal from the list below. Allow them to move around for no longer than one minute. Children should jump around in a loop/track to avoid collisions. Pause the music and instruct the children to freeze/stop. Choose a different animal for them to jump like next, or give them another exercise they can do in place. Jumping can be tiring, so give children adequate time to catch their breath between exercises.

• Kangaroo: With arms bent up by the chest and hands curled in front, jump 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!
• Spider: Spread out arms and legs and jump from place to place.
• Monkey: With hands under arm-pits, jump around the room. Grab on to wall, desk, etc., as if catching a tree branch.

Exercises in place:

• Balance on one foot
• Place your hands on your elbows
• Do 5 squats
• Jump in place
• Turn around
• Sit down, stand up
• Balance on your knees
• Clap your hands while hopping on one foot
• Shake your body

Set Up for Success

Make sure the jumping and landing surface is even and free from hazards.

Jumping can be very tiresome so give children adequate time to catch their breath before moving on to the next type of jump.

Teaching Cues

Enrichment

Have children trace the letter J for Jump. Provide children with different pictures of words that begin with J and instruct them to create a collage with the pictures.

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