Warm Up Dance, Dance, Dance

Equipment Required

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is for children to be active. Preschool children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity and 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity every day.

Overview

In this activity children will express themselves through dance.

How to Play

Play some music and let the children dance as they wish! Why not try something unusual, such as Calypso music? Or pick your own favorite – rock ‘n’ roll, twist, or oldies. Remind children to dance in their oown space and be careful not to bump into each other as they move.

Activity 1 Jump & Touch

Equipment Required

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is for children to be active. Preschool children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity and 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity every day.

Overview

In this activity children will improve leg power.

How to play

Ask children to form a line one behind the other. Take turns jumping up and trying to touch the beach ball. You can start with the ball low and gradually raise it. Or you can alter the height of the ball for each individual so everyone is successful and everyone is challenged! Encourage children to move quickly through the activity so that they are not spending too long waiting their turn.

Activity 2 Limbo

Equipment Required

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is for children to be active. Preschool children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity and 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity every day.

Overview

In this activity children will move under a broom stick like in the game of limbo.

How to play

With a helper, hold the broom stick straight, at about shoulder-height of the children. The children line up one behind the other and take turns trying to go under the broom stick without touching it. Each time every child has had a turn, lower the broom stick. The children may not be able to do the traditional limbo position, but that’s okay. Let them crawl or slide under the broom stick.

Cool-Down/Wrap-Up Zoo Moves

How to play

Flap your arms like a bird. Then hold them out as if you are soaring. Do giant flaps as a giant bird might do. Try small, fast flaps as a hummingbird might do.

Turtle Tuck: Lie on you back. Put your arms and legs up in the air. Then quickly pull the arms and legs in toward your tummy. Repeat several times.

Cat Stretch: Get on your hands and knees. Now arch your back like a mad cat. Then sway your back so your tummy points to the ground. Continue arching and swaying alternately. It should be a slow, gentle stretch.

Giraffe Neck: Slowly bend your neck forwards, backward, and side to side.

Kangaroo Jump: Jump in place, jumping as high as you can.

Snake Curl: Lie on the floor, stretching out as long as you can.

Enrichment

Read Eyes, Nose, Fingers and Toes, by Judy Hindley, and invite children to act out the action words in the book.

Attention Teachers!

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

Weekly Log

Attention Teachers!

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