INTEGRATED MOVEMENT IDEAS FOR GRADES 1-3

It’s important to intersperse integrated movement activities into each main

lesson! Instead of doing a long circle just do a few things during your opening
morning segment. And then do another during practice time, then another right
before bookwork and right after. We also recommend that you do an energizer at
the beginning of every practice period.

It’s crucial that you match the exercise with a simple imaginative ‘picture’ that
you tell the class or do the exercise with a verse you create that gives the
imagination to the students.

BEGINNING EXERCISES OR AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE

BRAIN GYM EXERCISES

These crossover exercises integrate the brain. They activate the sensory and
motor cortices of each hemisphere of the cerebrum. Check online for more Brain
Gym exercises.

Cross Crawl
1. While standing, touch the right elbow to the left knee and then the left elbow
to the right knee.
2. Do this exercise as conscious slow walking with more fine motor involvement
and balance. This activates the vestibular system and frontal lobes.

Here are a few more crossover activities that get both brain hemispheres to
“talk” to each other better: pat your head and rub your belly, march in place
while patting opposite knees, pat yourself on the opposite shoulder or touch
opposite elbows or heels while saying a verse.

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Hook ups
1. Cross one ankle over the other, whichever feels most comfortable
2. Hands are then crossed, clasped and inverted. To do this-stretch your arms
out in front of you, with the back of the hands together and the thumbs
pointing down. Lift one hand over the other, palms facing and interlock the
fingers. Roll the locked hands straight down and in toward the body so they
eventually rest on the chest with the elbows down.
3. While in this position, rest your tongue on the roof of our mouth behind the
teeth. Hold for 2 min.

VESTIBULAR SYSTEM (BALANCE) STRENGHTENING EXERCISES

Opossum Exercise
1. Pair up and move chairs away from desks.
2. One partner lays, belly down, on her desk with shoulders hanging over
the edge but head not touching the floor or feet hooked onto legs of desk.
Other partner spots for safety.
3. Tell them to be like young opossums that hang by their tails.
4. Begin with just 10 seconds of hanging and add time. Tell them to get up
slowly.
5. Switch places.

Windmill Exercise
1. Students stand with arms extended out to sides, at 90-degree angle, body
standing like a cross.
2. With eyes open, students rotate very slowly to complete one full turn (360
degrees). This rotation must take about 30 seconds. This verse spoken at
about one syllable per second will create the right pace.
Blow, wind, blow,
And go, mill, go,
That the mil-ler
Can gri-nd the co-rn,
The bak-er can take it
And in to bread make it,
And bring us a loaf
In the morn-ing,
And bring us a loaf
In the morn.
Blow, wind, blow,
And go, mill, go.
3. When the full rotation is completed, stand still with arms down at sides,
eyes closed. Count for 15 seconds.
4. Repeat the process but rotating in the opposite direction.
5. Follow this activity with a jumping activity.

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Note: This must be done slowly. It is the slow repetition over days and weeks
that builds and strengthens the vestibular system. One time per day is sufficient,
but this needs to be done at least 5 days of 7 over months.
If an individual has a particularly sensitive vestibular system, she may
experience dizziness when standing still with eyes closed. Monitor the child’s
response, being ready to stabilize her balance if she begins to sway or wobble.

Back to back standing up

1. Students pair up.
2. Pairs position themselves on the floor, back to back.
3. They ‘dig their feet into the floor’ and stand up together by pressing
against each other’s back.

Balance Stretches
1. Stand on one leg.
2. Reach opposite leg as far forward as they can.
3. Then reach out laterally.
4. Finally at a dropped angle.
5. Do 1-4 with opposite leg.

Squats
1. Stand up straight next to desk and place one hand lightly on it.
2. Bend both knees and reach hips back as if about to sit in a chair. Go as low
as knees allow but do not drop the buttocks below a 90-degree angle (no
lower than if there was a chair behind you).
3. Press heels into the floor and straighten back up, but do not lock your
knees.
4. Do eight to 12 repetitions.

Knee Jumps
1. Stand up and lift one leg so that knee is bent at 90 degrees angle.
2. Balance for a count of 10.
3. If able to balance easily, jump to turn 90 degrees staying balanced without
an extra hop.
4. Then jump another 90 degrees in the same way.
5. Repeat until you return to the original position.
6. Switch to other leg and repeat 1-5.

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Tree
1. Stand with feet shoulder width apart.
2. Point right foot in front of you and slowly drag that foot to your left ankle.
3. Move the ball of your right foot to the inside of your left knee or to inner
thigh if you can hold your balance.

4. Look forward and focus your eyes.

5. Bring the palms together and place them together at chest level and breathe
slowly.
6. Hold for 10 seconds.

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