Minds On

Let’s explore!

Explore the following images.

A student balancing on one foot with their arms extended sideways. A student balancing a book on their head.

Think about these questions:

  • What do you do to balance?
  • How can you stay still and not fall over?
  • How can you freeze and not drop what you are balancing?

Student Tips

Student tips

What does ‘balance’ mean?

Press ‘Balance’ to reveal what this word means.

Balance is being steady while staying still or moving.

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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 "Running" to learn 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

Safety

Before you begin:

Warm Up

Warm up

Now let’s warm up!

Explore this video as you warm up your body.

Follow along as best you can.

What is balance?

A person holding their body still.

Balance is being steady while staying still or moving. Balance can mean not falling over!

It is a skill related to our physical fitness.

A static balance is holding your body still in the same position.

Balancing animals

Let’s play a game!

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

Explore the following images.

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?

Exploring different balance movements

We can balance using different body parts.

Let’s learn about different types of balances.

Try at least 2 moves as you explore.

Always be sure to do your safety checks!

A student standing on one leg. Their raised leg is bent. They have both arms out to keep balance.

Option A:

  • Stand with your strongest foot on the ground.
  • Slowly lift your other foot off the floor.
  • Put your foot on the lower part of your leg near your ankle.
  • Move your arms out to help you balance.
  • Repeat the same with your other leg.
A student sitting on a chair. Their arms are stretched out and they are raising one leg.

Option B:

  • While sitting, slowly lift one leg forward off the floor.
  • You can place your arms out to help you balance, or you can place your arms on your chest.
  • Hold and balance.
  • Repeat the same with your other leg.

A student sitting on a chair. They have one knee raised.

Option A:

  • Start by sitting or standing.
  • Slowly lift your knee up as far as you can.
  • Hold and balance.
  • Bring your knee down.
  • Repeat the same motion with your other knee.
A student sitting on a chair. They have one leg out and their arms out.

Option B:

  • Start by sitting or standing.
  • Slowly lift your leg facing forward, use your arms to help balance.
  • Hold and balance.
  • Bring your leg down.
  • Repeat the same motion with your other leg.

A student sitting on a chair. They have their arms out and they are leaning to one side.

Option A:

  • Start by sitting or standing.
  • Extend your arms out to your side.
  • Slowly move your body down to one side.
  • Hold and balance.
  • Move your body back to the center.
  • Repeat the same motion on your other side.
A student sitting. They have their hands together and in front of them. They are bending forward.

Option B:

  • Start by sitting or standing.
  • Put your hands together and move your arms out.
  • Slowly bend your body forward.
  • Hold and balance.

Child on one knee with one leg is kicked out behind and stretching with the opposite arm.

Option A:

  • Get on your hands and knees.
  • Slowly lift your right hand and arm and point it straight out in front.
  • Balance.
  • Place your hand down on the ground.
  • Slowly kick your left leg back and out.
  • Balance.

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

A student sitting in a chair with one knee raised and their left hand up.

Option B:

  • Start by sitting up straight.
  • Slowly lift your right knee up and raise your left hand up.
  • Hold and balance.
  • Repeat the same on the other side.

Pause and Reflect

Pause and reflect

Let’s pause and reflect.

Answer the following questions using a method of your choice.

  • How did your body feel when you were balancing?
  • Can you balance using different body parts?
  • Which balance did you enjoy the most? Why?

Ready for a challenge?

A student balancing a book on their head.

Let’s balance with an object!

Always be sure to do your safety checks!

Pick an object. You can use a tissue, a soft stuffed toy, or a rolled-up sock.

Try balancing your object on:

  • your head
  • one body part
  • a different body part

You can even try balancing your object with one of the balance movements you just explored.

Can you balance using an object?

What is a cool down?

A cool down can be activities or stretches that slowly help our bodies relax and calmer 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.

Explore the following options. Complete three of these activities for your cool down.

Press the following tabs to learn more about the cool down activities.

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.
  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. Slowly take a deep breath and breathe through your nose.
  2. Breathe out through your mouth.
  3. Repeat this 3 times.
  4. Take your arms and wrap them around your shoulders and give yourself a big hug.

Consolidation

My balance routine

Three students holding different yoga poses in the park student.

Make your own balance routine!

Create an interesting balance using one or two feet.

Now create a balance with one body part touching the floor and another on a chair.

How did you change your balance?

Share your ideas with a partner, if possible.

You can draw pictures, write words, or share your ideas using an audio or video recording.

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.