Part VI...We Like to Move It....Lesson Plan of Activities Week 2

The activities and props are simple so there is no excuse for you and your child not to be moving it.  Have fun!

Equipment/Props Needed:

• Appropriate, fun music...take a little time and find some
• Paper plates
• A mat or soft carpeted floor
• Bean Bags
• Parachute, OR a large beach towel OR an old bed sheet cut to manageable size
• Teddy Bear

Warm-Up:   Prepares muscles and joints for movement activities

• "Rockin'Robin" - (remember this old song? or find another bird song)  With a paper plate in each hand being used as wings, flap your wings and fly all around the room...stop now and then and use the plates as your beak...flap and fly some more...stop and use your paper plates behind you as your tail feathers and shake them...flap and fly some more.

Gymnastics/Tumbling:  Promotes gross motor coordination, strength, flexibility

• Practice straddle position from last week's lesson
• Tuck Position - seated on the floor, bend knees into chest and hug them tightly...easy way to remind of how to do tuck position is to seat your child on the floor and tell them to "hug your knees"
• Bridge - stand, feet together, bend forward and place hands on the floor in front of you so your body looks like an upside down letter "V".  Have your child crawl under your bridge several times...have a stuffed animal friend crawl under your child's bridge (unless you are doing this with more than one small child or you are able to crawl under your child's bridge
  
• Pencil Rolls - have your child lie on the mat (floor), body straight and rigid (we call this a tight body) with arms extended straight overhead, hands together as a pencil point.  Then in this tight body position child rolls across the mat...then roll back the other way.  (you can give them a little push to get started)   Do it several times.  You should take a turn also!  This is not as easy as it sounds for some children.  Perfection is not the goal...they'll get better with practice.

(the above skills are basics which will be used later in different imaginative activities)

Bean Bag Play:  Promotes hand-eye coordination, balance skills, knowledge of body parts, concepts of over, under

• Bean Bag Balance - Child and parent each have a bean bag.  Give verbal directions and demonstrate to balance your bean bag on your hand (it's a bird flying), on your head (it's a hat), on you shoulder (a pet animal)...be imaginative.  Do each balance activity first seated, then standing, then walking.  Child is then encouraged to show some "tricks" of their own.
• Over/Under - Direct your child to toss the bean bag "over your head" or "under your legs" (standing straddle for tossing under)...keep this fast paced, moving from one toss to the next.  Children are encouraged to verbalize their actions by saying "over my head" or "under my legs" while doing so.  Child runs to retrieve the bean bag after each toss and repeat over and over.  The kids always giggled over this one.
  

Parachute Play:  Promotes gross motor coordination, upper body strength, endurance, cooperation, listening skills

• Upon your verbal directions you and child(ren) move the parachute up and down slowly; shake it fast; circle around like a carousel (carousel music is great on this activity); freeze.  Repeat for several minutes.  Think of other ways to move.  Then put dear Teddy Bear on the parachute and take him for a carousel ride, toss up and down...WHEEEEEEEEEE!! 
  

Cool-down/Stretch:  Promotes muscle recovery, flexibility, rest, calm time for ending activities and receiving rewarding hugs

• Find a slow, calm activity song...seated on the floor follow the movements indicated in the song or if there are none, show your child simple stretches and slow, deep breathing
• Give hugs and praise