B. Active Living / C. Movement Competence · Active Living and Movement: Motivated, Fit, Safe and SkilfulTravelling Combos: Rhythm, Dodging and Moving Together
C1 A1.4 A1.6About 35 minutes
Learning goals- I can perform many locomotor movements correctly, such as hopping, leaping, skipping, galloping and sliding.
- I can combine movements in a sequence, changing speed, direction, pathway and level.
- I can move to a beat using 8-counts, and skip rope with different footwork.
- I can dodge by changing speed and direction, and move in unison or in canon with others.
Words to know
locomotor movement
A way of travelling from one place to another, like running, hopping or sliding.
leap
Taking off from one foot and landing on the other foot, with a moment in the air.
8-count
Counting 1 to 8 to the beat of the music, to plan a sequence of moves.
dodge
Quickly changing direction or speed to get away from someone or something.
unison
Everyone doing the same move at the same time.
canon
People doing the same moves one after another, like a wave.
Remember from Grade 3
In Grade 3 you travelled at high, medium and low levels, along straight, curved and zigzag pathways, in different directions, with equipment and with a partner (leading, following, mirroring, shadowing).
This year you will combine moves into sequences, move to a beat, dodge like a tag expert, and move together with a group.
Know your locomotor moves
| Move | How to do it |
|---|
| Hop | Take off from one foot and land on the same foot. |
| Jump | Take off from one or two feet and land on two feet. |
| Leap | Take off from one foot and land on the other foot, stretching long with a moment in the air. |
| Skip | Step, hop on one foot, then step, hop on the other. Swing your arms. |
| Gallop | One foot always leads forward, the back foot chases it. |
| Slide | Like a gallop, but sideways. Feet come together, then apart. Don't cross your feet. |
| Run | Push off the balls of your feet, pump your arms, lean slightly forward. |
Combining moves
A combination joins moves in a row. To make it interesting, change:
- Speed: fast, slow, speeding up, slowing down.
- Direction: forward, backward, sideways, turning.
- Pathway: straight, curved, zigzag.
- Level: high (leaps, jumps), medium (skips), low (crawls, crouching walks).
Example: 3 skips forward, 1 big leap, 4 slides to the right, then a slow crouching walk in a curve.
Moving to a beat: 8-counts
Dancers and skippers plan moves in 8-counts: they count 1 to 8 to the beat of the music. Each move takes some counts.
Skipping-rope footwork
Skipping is a locomotor skill too. Try these once you can do the basic two-foot bounce:
- Jogging step: alternate feet, like running on the spot.
- Skier: jump side to side, feet together.
- Bell: jump forward and back, feet together.
- Hop: 4 jumps on the right foot, then 4 on the left.
Turn the rope with your wrists, keep elbows close to your sides, and jump just high enough for the rope to pass.
Dodging
In tag and many games, you need to dodge. The best dodgers:
- stay on the balls of their feet with knees bent (ready to go any way),
- change direction quickly by planting one foot and pushing off the other way,
- change speed: slow down, then burst away,
- fake: lean one way, then go the other,
- keep their head up to see space and other players.
Moving together
In a group you can move in:
- Unison: everyone does the same move at the same time.
- Canon: one person starts, the next starts a few counts later, and so on, like a wave at a hockey game.
Moving together takes communication ("Ready? 5, 6, 7, 8!") and patience with people who learn at different speeds.
Worked exampleLet's build a 16-count combo
Make a combination that is two 8-counts long. It must change direction and level.
- First 8-count: 4 skips forward (counts 1 to 4: skips are medium level), then 4 slides to the right (counts 5 to 8).
- Second 8-count: 2 big jumps straight up (counts 1 to 4, high level, 2 counts each), crouch and do a low walk backward (counts 5 to 7), and freeze in a shape (count 8).
- Check: Direction changes? Yes: forward, sideways, backward. Level changes? Yes: medium, high, low.
- Count it out loud the first few times, then try it to music.
Skips forward (1–4), slides right (5–8); 2 jumps (1–4), low walk backward (5–7), freeze (8). It changes direction and level.
Worked exampleLet's improve a dodge
In freeze tag, Ravi runs in a straight line at full speed and gets tagged every time. What should he change?
- Problem: a straight line at one speed is easy to predict.
- Change pathway: use zigzag and curved pathways.
- Change speed: jog, then burst away when the tagger gets close.
- Fake: lean left, then push off and go right.
- Stay ready: knees bent, on the balls of his feet, head up to find open space.
Ravi becomes harder to tag by changing pathway, speed and direction, and by faking.
Hands-on activityKitchen dance-off or yard routine
You need: music, open space (a yard, park or cleared room), a skipping rope (optional) and a family member or two.
- Pick a song with a strong beat. Clap along and count 1 to 8 over and over.
- Make a routine of four 8-counts (32 counts). Use at least 4 different locomotor moves, 2 changes of direction and 2 levels.
- Write it down: 8-count 1, 8-count 2, and so on.
- Teach it to a family member. Perform it in unison. Then try it in canon: they start 4 counts after you.
- Bonus: add an 8-count of skipping-rope footwork (bounce, skier, bell).
- Dodging game: play a few rounds of tag in a marked area. Practise zigzags, speed changes and fakes.
Safety: Clear the space of tripping hazards. Running shoes on. In tag, gentle two-finger touches only.
Just for funRiddle: What has eight counts but never goes to math class?
A dance routine! 5, 6, 7, 8!
Your turn
1What is the difference between a hop and a jump?
A hop takes off and lands on the same one foot. A jump lands on two feet.
2What is the difference between a gallop and a slide?
A gallop goes forward with one foot leading; a slide goes sideways.
Take off from one foot and land on the other foot, stretching long with a moment in the air.
4Name two things you can change to make a combination more interesting.
Any two: speed, direction, pathway, level.
Counting 1 to 8 to the beat to plan moves.
6Name two ways to dodge well.
Any two: change direction, change speed, fake, stay on the balls of your feet with knees bent, keep your head up.
7Do it and check: Skip (step-hop) across the room, then gallop back.
Look for: skipping with a step-hop on alternate feet and arms swinging; galloping with the same foot leading the whole way.
More practice: warm-up
1Which move goes sideways: skip, slide or leap?
2Is a leap usually a high or low move?
Everyone doing the same move at the same time.
4In skipping rope, what part of your body should turn the rope?
Your wrists (elbows close to your sides).
5How many counts are in two 8-counts?
More practice: on your own
1A move takes 2 counts. How many times can you do it in one 8-count?
2Explain canon using a group of 4 friends.
Friend 1 starts the moves. Friend 2 starts the same moves a few counts later, then friend 3, then friend 4, so the moves ripple along like a wave.
3Write a combination that uses a zigzag pathway and a change of speed.
Example: jog in a zigzag for 8 counts, then sprint in a straight line for 4 counts, then walk slowly in a curve for 4 counts. Look for a zigzag and a clear speed change.
4Why should you keep your knees bent and stay on the balls of your feet to dodge?
You are ready to move in any direction quickly. Flat feet and straight legs are slow to start.
5Your partner keeps starting the routine too early. How could you help, kindly?
Count in together ("5, 6, 7, 8!"), practise slowly first, and say something encouraging. Be patient: people learn at different speeds.
Challenge
1Plan a 24-count routine with these moves: 4 hops on one foot (1 count each), 2 leaps (2 counts each), 4 slides (1 count each), a turn (4 counts) and a freeze. How many counts does the freeze get?
4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16 counts used (hops 4, leaps 2 × 2 = 4, slides 4, turn 4). 24 − 16 = 8 counts left for the freeze.
2In a game of tag, the tagger is faster than you. Which dodging tactics help most, and why?
Changing direction and faking help most, because they make the tagger stop and turn while you stay ready. Using open space and curved or zigzag pathways also helps. Running straight lets a faster player catch you.
3Your group's canon looks messy. Name three things you could do to fix it.
Examples: count out loud together; decide exactly how many counts apart each person starts; practise slowly, then speed up; spread out so no one bumps; have one person watch and give feedback.
Quiz
1. Which move takes off from one foot and lands on the other foot?
5. Which is the best way to dodge a tagger?
6. A move takes 4 counts. How many times can you do it in two 8-counts?
Big idea: Grade 4 students perform a variety of locomotor movements (hop, jump, leap, skip, gallop, slide, run) with control, combining them while changing speed, direction, pathway and level, alone and with others. They also move to a beat, use skipping-rope footwork and practise dodging.
How to help at home:
- Have a family dance party and build a routine in 8-counts.
- Watch your child's skip and gallop. Skipping is step-hop on alternate feet; galloping keeps the same foot in front.
- Play tag in a marked area and cheer good dodges.
Common difficulties:
- Mixing up hop and jump. Hop = one foot to the same foot; jump = land on two feet.
- Crossing feet in a slide. Feet come together and apart without crossing.
- Losing the beat. Clap the beat first and count out loud.
- Skipping rope with big arm circles. Turn the rope with the wrists.
Safety: Clear tripping hazards, use running shoes, and in tag games use gentle touches.
Math link: Planning 8-counts uses multiplication and division facts.
Social-emotional learning: Moving in unison or canon builds communication and healthy relationships; designing combinations builds creative thinking.