Guest Author - Susan Kramer
At school, taking a 10 minute jog or run around the perimeter of the property, playground, or another safe spot is a way to both de-stress and gain a fresh perspective.
While moving along, swinging arms in opposition to legs exercises the right-left brain connection (like cross-crawling) and is done like this: when the right leg swings forward, the left arm swings forward, and when the left leg steps forward the right arm swings forward.
Biking, swimming and free-form dance are other aerobic activities.
In the classroom, teachers can put on some singing and dance music and let the students move away their wiggles.
Marching around the room keeping time with rhythm instruments is always a fun activity and helps develop coordination, too!
Students with restricted movement can probably exercise some of their body right in place by turning their heads to right and left, leaning first to one shoulder, then the other.
Also, they can stretch one arm high and then stretch the other high, and side to side. And, if careful, turn their upper bodies in the chair.
One leg at a time can be wriggled and feet alternately stretched and flexed.
And at the end of a session of aerobic movement a deep relaxation practice is welcome and teaches the kids how to de-stress at home, too, when they need it.
Have the students stretch out on their backs on the center rug and close their eyes. Tell them to let their bodies sink into the carpet while they lie very still, no wiggling or giggling. A soothing piece of music that is kept just for this exercise helps the students relax more easily and calm down when agitated.
For offline reading
Free to Move, Learning Kinesthetically - Comprehensive guide to teaching kinesthetically in a 90 page fully illustrated text, outlining body placement, rhythms, large motor skills, dynamics, creative movement, mini-lessons, and detailed master lesson plan for elementary school kids. Available as an Ebook
Article by Susan Kramer
