Minds On

What is balance?

What do you think the word 'balance' means?

Let's explore the following images.

Press 'Balance' to find out what this word means.

Balance is being steady while staying still or moving.

Acknowledgements(Opens in a new window)

Action

What is a warm up?

In our learning activities, we will be learning to move our bodies in different ways. Every activity will start with a warm up.

A warm up can be activities or stretches that slowly get our bodies ready to play games.

Explore this video entitled “Running” to learn more about how Bamboo Love gets ready for a big run.

It is important that when we do any type of physical activity, we:

  • complete our warm up activities
  • follow the safety rules

Now let's warm up!

Safety

Before you begin:

Warm Up

Warm Up

Let's get our bodies moving! Explore this video as you warm up your body.

Explore this video entitled “Power Up: Nature 3” to learn more about a nature themed workout.

Follow along as best as you can.

Balancing animals

Let's play a balancing game!

First, let's think about how some animals balance.

Always be sure to do your safety checks!

Now, move around in your space.

STOP and balance in any way you can.

Can you balance like one of the animals?

Task 1: Different ways I can balance

We can balance using different body parts.

Let's learn about different types of balances.

You can even try out some of the moves as you explore.

Always be sure to do your safety checks!

Press the following tabs to learn more about different balance positions.

A person sitting with their legs tightly together and off the ground.

Option A:

  • Step 1: Sit on the ground.
  • Step 2: Your legs are straight out in front of you.
  • Step 3: Hold your legs tightly together off the ground.
  • Step 4: Your hands are stretched towards your knees but not touching them.
  • Step 5: Balance.

Option B:

  • Step 1: Lay on the ground.
  • Step 2: Your legs are straight out.
  • Step 3: Your arms are at your side.
  • Step 4: Raise your feet a little off the ground and sit up slowly.
  • Step 5: Try to keep your back straight.
  • Step 6: Balance.

Option C:

  • Step 1: Sit on the ground.
  • Step 2: Your legs are straight out in front of you.
  • Step 3: Hold your legs tightly together off the ground.
  • Step 4: Your hands are stretched and holding your knees.
  • Step 5: Balance.

Option D:

  • Step 1: Sit straight up in a chair.
  • Step 2: Keep your hands clasped together and reach straight forward.
  • Step 3: Hold it and balance.
  • Step 4: Repeat this movement on your left and right side.

A child and an adult are balance standing on one leg. The foot of the one leg is against the knee of the other.

Option A:

  • Step 1: Sit up straight with your back against the back of the chair.
  • Step 2: With both hands, lift one leg up so it is off the ground.
  • Step 3: Hold it.
  • Step 4: Balance.

Option B:

  • Step 1: Stand up straight.
  • Step 2: Keep your strongest foot on the ground.
  • Step 3: Slowly lift your other foot off the floor.
  • Step 4: Put your foot on the lower part of your leg near your ankle.
  • Step 5: Balance.

Option C:

  • Step 1: Stand up straight.
  • Step 2: Keep your strongest foot on the ground.
  • Step 3: Slowly lift your other foot off the floor.
  • Step 4: Put your foot as high up your leg as you can, but not on your knee.
  • Step 5: Balance.

Option D:

  • Step 1: Sit straight up in a chair.
  • Step 2: Slowly move your weight to one side.
  • Step 3: Hold it and balance.
  • Step 4: Come back to the centre.
  • Step 5: Repeat the same movement on the other side.

Note: You can use the wall to support your back while trying any of these balances.

An adult balancing on one knee with the other one stretched.

Option A:

  • Step 1: Get on your hands and knees.
  • Step 2: Slowly lift your right hand and arm and point it straight out in front.
  • Step 3: Balance.
  • Step 4: Place your hand down on the ground.
  • Step 5: Slowly kick your left leg back and out.
  • Step 6: Balance.

Option B:

  • Step 1: Get on your hands and knee.
  • Step 2: Kick back your right foot.
  • Step 3: Slowly lift your opposite hand and arm (left) and point it straight out in front.
  • Step 4: Balance.

Option C:

  • Step 1: Sit up straight with your back against the back of the chair.
  • Step 2: Slowly lift your right hand.
  • Step 3: Point it straight out in front.
  • Step 4: Balance.
  • Step 5: Place your hand back in your lap.
  • Step 6: If possible, slowly stretch your left leg out in front.
  • Step 7: Balance.

Option D:

  • Step 1: Sit up straight in a chair.
  • Step 2: Slowly lift your leg up.
  • Step 3: Hold and balance.
  • Step 4: Repeat the same with your other leg.

Note: You can use a folded blanket or a towel under your knees.

An adult is posing with one big step forward and hands are stretched sideways.

Option A:

  • Step 1: Stand with your feet pointing straight ahead.
  • Step 2: Take a big step forward with one leg.
  • Step 3: Place both hands straight up in the air.
  • Step 4: Balance.

Option B:

  • Step 1: Sit up straight in a chair.
  • Step 2: Hold onto the chair on either side.
  • Step 3: Stand up straight slowly.
  • Step 4: Take one step forward.
  • Step 5: Balance.

Option C:

  • Step 1: Sit up straight in a chair.
  • Step 2: Bend forward and stretch one arm as far forward as you can.
  • Step 3: Balance.

Option D:

  • Step 1: Sit up straight in a chair.
  • Step 2: Clasp your hands and move your arm up.
  • Step 3: Slowly move your weight to one side.
  • Step 4: Hold and balance.
  • Step 5: Repeat the same movement on the other side.

Pause and Reflect

Pause and reflect

How did my body feel when I was balancing?

Can I balance using different body parts?

Which balance did you enjoy the most? Why?

What is a cool down?

A cool down can be activities or stretches that slowly help our bodies relax and calm down after we finish playing games.

It is important that when we finish any type of physical activity, we:

  • complete our cool down activities
  • follow the safety rules

Cool down

Cool down

Let's cool down from all that balancing.

Press the following tabs to explore the cool down activities.

A student shaking a body part.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Gently shake one arm, the other arm, then both.
  3. Shake one leg, the other leg, then both.
  4. Gently shake your head, hips, and whole body.

A student with their arms extended. They are making circles with their arms.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. March on the spot and raise your arms out to your shoulders.
  3. Slowly make circles going one way. Do this 5 times.
  4. Slowly make circles going the other way. Do this 5 times.

A student with their arms up, making circles with their arms
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Marching on the spot and raise your arms in the air.
  3. Slowly make circles going one way. Do this 5 times.
  4. Slowly make circles going the other way. Do this 5 times.
  5. Try and make different shapes.

A student with their arms in front of them. They are shaking their arms
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Pretend to be a tree in a windstorm, your arms are the branches.
  3. The windstorm starts off strong, blowing hard.
  4. The windstorm then begins to blow softer and calmer.

A student with their arms raised. Then bends over to touch their toes
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Reach up using your arms and touch the sky. Count to 5.
  3. Slowly reach down and touch your toes. Count to 5.
  4. Repeat this one more time.

A student bending over to touch their toes
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Slowly move your body forward.
  3. Reach and touch your toes. Count to 5, then move your body back up.
  4. Try to touch your toes one foot at a time.

A student pretending to climb a ladder
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Pretend to climb a tall ladder.
  3. Slowly move your arms and legs up and down as if you were climbing a ladder to the sky.

A student taking deep breaths and giving themselves a hug.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Slowly take a deep breath and breathe through your nose.
  3. Breathe out through your mouth.
  4. Repeat this 3 times.
  5. Take your arms and wrap them around your shoulders and give yourself a big hug.

Consolidation

Show what you know!

Select the correct answer, then press 'Check Answer' to see how you did.

What are two ways to balance using different parts of our body?

Share your ideas with a partner, if possible.

Complete the Ways to Balance document in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. You can draw pictures, write words, or share your ideas using an audio or video recording.

If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.

Press the ‘Activity’ button to explore Ways to Balance. 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)
Ways to Balance
Two Ways to Balance Using Different Body Parts

 

 

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.