Grade by Grade
B. Active Living / C. Movement Competence · Moving and Playing Safely

Balancing and Travelling

C1About 35 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can hold a balance while staying still, using different body parts, levels and shapes.
  • I can balance while moving, like walking along a line.
  • I can travel in many ways: walk, run, hop, jump, gallop, slide and skip.
  • I can move in different directions and pathways and land safely from a jump.

Words to know

balance
Holding your body steady so you don't fall over.
static balance
Balancing while staying still, like a statue.
dynamic balance
Balancing while moving, like walking along a line.
locomotor movement
A way of travelling from one place to another, like running, hopping or skipping.
level
How high or low your body is: high, medium or low.
pathway
The line you make on the floor as you move: straight, curved or zigzag.
direction
Which way you go: forward, backward, sideways, up or down.

Can you be a flamingo? 🦩

Stand on one foot. Hold your arms out. Count to 5. Now try the other foot!

Did you wobble? That's okay. Your body was working hard to balance.

Balancing

There are two kinds of balance:

  • Static balance means balancing while you stay still, like a statue.
  • Dynamic balance means balancing while you move, like walking along a line or a low beam.

You can balance on different body parts: two feet, one foot, two hands and two feet, your bottom, or your knees.

You can balance at different levels: high (on tiptoes, reaching up), medium (standing or kneeling) and low (close to the floor).

You can make different shapes: wide like a star, narrow like a pencil, curled like a ball, twisted like a pretzel.

one footstar shapelow, 3 body parts
Three balances: on one foot (a medium level), a wide star shape, and a low balance on three body parts (two feet and one hand).

Balancing secrets

  • Look at one spot that is not moving.
  • Tighten your tummy like you are a strong tree trunk.
  • Spread your arms out to help.
  • A wider base (feet apart) is easier. A smaller base (one foot) is harder.

Travelling (locomotor movements)

There are many ways to get from one place to another.

MovementHow to do it
WalkOne foot after the other, one foot always on the ground
RunLike walking but faster, with both feet off the ground for a moment
JumpTake off from two feet and land on two feet
HopTake off from one foot and land on the same foot
GallopOne foot always leads in front, the back foot chases it, like a horse
SlideMove sideways: step to the side, then bring the other foot to meet it
SkipStep, then hop on the same foot; then step, hop on the other foot
JUMPtwo feet → two feettake offlandHOPone foot → the same foottake offland
A jump takes off from two feet and lands on two feet. A hop takes off from one foot and lands on that same foot.

Moving with awareness

When you travel, you can change:

  • direction: forward, backward, sideways
  • pathway: straight, curved, zigzag
  • speed: fast or slow
  • level: high (on tiptoes) or low (crouching)

Good movers stay aware of themselves and the space around them. They look for empty spaces and avoid bumping others.

straightzigzagcurved
Three pathways: straight, zigzag and curved.
Worked example

Let's land a jump safely

How do you jump and land so that you don't get hurt and you don't fall over?

  1. Get ready: feet apart, bend your knees, swing your arms back.
  2. Take off: swing your arms forward and up and push off with both feet.
  3. Land: land on both feet, on the balls of your feet, then heels.
  4. Squish: bend your knees as you land, like a spring, to soften the landing.
  5. Freeze: hold still for a moment with your arms out in front to show your balance.

Safe landing: two feet, bent knees, arms out, freeze! This is called a soft, controlled landing.

Worked example

Let's make a balance sequence

Make a short routine: one high balance, one low balance and one moving balance.

  1. High balance: stand on tiptoes with arms reaching up. Hold for 3 seconds.
  2. Low balance: sit on your bottom with your feet off the floor and arms out (a "boat"). Hold for 3 seconds.
  3. Moving balance: walk heel-to-toe along a line (tape or a skipping rope on the floor) with arms out.
  4. Check: Did you hold the still balances without moving your feet? Did you stay on the line?

A tiptoe stretch (high), a boat (low) and a line walk (moving). You used static and dynamic balance at different levels.

Funny but true

Flamingos often stand on one leg for a long time, and they can even fall asleep that way! 🦩 Next time you wobble, remember they have had lots of practice.

Hands-on activity

Animal moves obstacle course

You need: pillows, a skipping rope or masking tape, a chair.

  1. Lay the rope or tape on the floor in a zigzag line.
  2. Walk along it like a tightrope walker (dynamic balance).
  3. Jump like a bunny over each pillow (two feet) or like a kangaroo.
  4. Gallop like a horse around the chair.
  5. Slide sideways like a crab back to the start.
  6. Finish with a flamingo balance (one foot) for 5 seconds.

Ask a grown-up to time you, or call out new animals for you to copy!

Your turn

1

What is the difference between a jump and a hop?

2

Name the three levels.

3

Do it and check: Balance on one foot for 5 seconds, then switch.

4

Do it and check: Make a wide star shape balance and a narrow pencil shape balance.

5

Is walking along a line static or dynamic balance?

6

Name three pathways you can travel in.

7

Do it and check: Gallop across the room, then slide back.

More practice: warm-up

1

Is standing still on one foot static or dynamic balance?

2

Which is a low level: tiptoes or crawling?

3

Name one way to travel that is not walking.

4

Which direction is it when you move like a crab, to the side?

5

Do it and check: Jump forward and land on two feet with bent knees.

More practice: on your own

1

Which is harder to balance on: two feet or one foot? Why?

2

Describe how to skip.

3

Why do we bend our knees when we land?

4

Do it and check: Make a balance using three body parts at a low level.

5

Your teacher says: "Travel in a zigzag pathway at a low level." What could that look like?

Challenge

1

Do it and check: Hop 5 times on your right foot, then 5 times on your left foot, in a straight line.

2

Make up a 3-move routine that uses a change of direction, a change of speed and a balance. Tell it to a grown-up and then do it.

3

Why is it important to look for empty space when you travel in a busy gym?

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Balancing while staying still is called...

2.

A hop is...

3.

How should you land after a jump?

4.

Which is a zigzag pathway?

5.

Moving sideways, bringing your feet together without crossing them, is called a...

6.

Which balance is the hardest?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Grade 1 movement skills include stability (static balances using different body parts, levels and shapes; dynamic balance such as walking a line; jumping and landing with control) and locomotion (walking, running, hopping, jumping, galloping, sliding, skipping) while changing direction, pathway, speed and level. These are the building blocks of all games and sports.

How to help at home:

  • Play "Simon Says" with movement words: "Simon says gallop... freeze in a low balance!"
  • Use tape lines on the floor for balance walks.
  • Model skills yourself. Children learn a lot by watching.

Common difficulties:

  • Skipping is hard for many 6-year-olds. Practise slowly: "step-hop, step-hop." Galloping usually comes first.
  • Hopping on the non-dominant foot is often weaker. Practise both sides.
  • Stiff landings. Remind them to "land like a cat" with bent knees.
  • Wobbling is normal. Praise holding a balance a bit longer each time.