Warm Up Body Cues

Equipment Required

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is for children to notice and become aware of how their body feels when they are resting.

Overview

In this activity children will discuss basic body cues.

How to Play

Sit in a circle and talk with the children about how they feel when they are sitting quietly. How does their skin feel? Are they hot or cold? Can they feel their heart beating? Are they breathing fast or slow? Talk about how exercise changes how their body feels. Ask them if they are ready to do some exercise!

Activity 1 Walking Bus

Equipment Required

Purpose

To accumulate 5 to 10 minutes of physical activity. To learn and practice safety skills while walking inside.

Overview

In this activity the children will walk around the classroom holding on to a rope.

How to play

Line the children up for a follow the leader game. Tell the children that you are going to take a trip, and they need to “get on the bus” for the trip. To get on the bus, they all must take a hold of a long rope with one hand. Before starting off, check to see if everyone is “on the bus” (holding on to the rope). Practice walking around the classroom together while holding on to the rope. Take an interesting path through the classroom to a special spot. Get off the bus (let go of the rope), explore the special spot, then tell everyone it is time to get back on the bus. Check to see if everyone is on the bus, then go back to the starting point.

Talk to the children about how to be safe when walking outside:

Activity 2 Walk Outdoors

Equipment Required

Teacher Tips

Stay on the Head Start Campus if possible. Use your best judgment when deciding to cross a road on your walk. When you choose to cross a road, model the safe way to do it: show children that you are looking Left, Right, Left, before crossing the street. Also, if you have a large class, walk on a day when other adults can join you in keeping the children safe.

Purpose

In this activity children will discuss basic body cues.

Overview

In this activity the children will go on a nature walk outside.

How to play

After going over safety rules and practicing with the rope, take the children on a short walk outdoors, using the rope to help keep all of the children together. Place an adult at the front of the rope and at the back of the rope. Explore the outside area of your Head Start, and the safe places nearby. Make frequent short stops to look at plants or bugs or point out birds or other animals. Remind the children how important it is to drink water after exercise, and give them a drink when they return from their walk.

Cool-Down/Wrap-Up Nature Story & Body Cues

Equipment

How to play

  1. Sit down in a circle and talk about body cues again. Does anything feel different? Are their hearts beating faster? Do they feel warm or sweaty?
  2. Read a nature story to the children. Some ideas include: The True Story of Smokey Bear, or The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV. Consider reading the story outside if there is a nice place for everyone to sit.
  3. After the story, encourage them to make a drawing of their nature walk.

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.