Balancing
Pre K - 1 Musical Line Movements 1 - 6 Eraser Tag
K - 2 Agility Ladder Challenge 1 - 6 Yardstick Limbo
1 - 5 Spelling Roll 3 - 8 Chinese Get-Up

PPEP 2005, Lesson Sharing
Teacher & School: Tyson Steeves, Meadow Elementary
Activity Grade Level
Yardstick Limbo 1 - 6
Equipment Needs
  • Yardstick
  • Exercise Mat
  • Recording of Lively Music
Facility / Playground Needs Classroom, or Multi-use room
Lesson Objective (Psychomotor and/or Cognitive):

Balance, flexibility, and dexterity
Teaching Hints: Make sure that there is plenty of space for the students once they pass under the yardstick so that there is room to regain their footing.
Change "stick-holders" after a few rounds so that everyone has the opportunity to participate.
Description:
  1. Have two students hold a yardstick horizontally between them at shoulder height.
  2. The other students form a line and dance to the music as they "limbo" under the yardstick. (Students may go under the stick in any manner they choose.)
  3. Any student who knocks the stick down is out.
  4. Once everyone has been given the chance to limbo under the stick the first time, the stick is lowered.
  5. The process continues until there is only one person left.
Alternatives / Modifications

Challenge: Students can go under the stick with only their feet touching the floor (Traditional Limbo).

For lower grades, use several different sized hula-hoops for the students to go through instead. Start with larger hula-hoops and change to smaller hoops after each round.
Reference Evan-Moor Corp. Ten-Minute Activities for Grades 1-3 2001.