Active with kids at home activity: Around the World

The Whole World in Your Hands fitness activity allows children to exercise their entire body through physical challenges. By keeping children moving, this activity helps to strengthen heart and lungs, build muscle, and increase flexibility. Authors Carol Scaini and Carolyn Evans include this activity in their book, 50 Games for Going Green.

Eco Thought
One simple day of action can have a huge impact on the health and well-being of the planet. Each of us has a hand in the future of our world, and together we can make a difference. Take responsibility for your actions and find ways to make a positive impact on the earth. What little green deed can you do?

Equipment
One medium sized ball per child

Music

How to Play
Students perform the following exercises for a count of 8, 10, or 12 seconds or for 8, 10, or 12 reps, depending on the activity.

Earth walk: Walk around holding the ball in front.

Around the world:

• Place the ball at your feet.
• Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
• Pick up the ball, reach out to the side, extend ball overhead and back to the floor in a circular motion, and repeat.
• Change directions.

Keeping the world strong:

• Start with feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
• Hold the ball against the wall, step away from the wall and perform a push-up with hands on the ball at chest level, and repeat.
• Take care of the earth:
• Start with feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
• Stand close to the wall and hold the ball against the wall at chest level.
• Walk the ball up the wall with fingertips and hold the stretch at the top.
• Walk the ball back down the wall, and repeat.

Earth rotation:

• Start with feet shoulder-width apart, and knees slightly bent.
• Hold the ball out in front, twist at the waist to the left, and return to the center.
• Twist at the waist to the right and return to center.
• Repeat sequence.

Earth-sit:

• Start with feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
• With arms extended holding the ball, perform a squat and return to standing position.
• Variation: Raise ball over head.

Lifting the earth:

• Place feet shoulder-width apart with ball on the ground.
• Starting on the right side, bend down to pick up the ball and reach up diagonally to the left side.
• Repeat action on the opposite side.

Hug the earth:

• Place feet shoulder-width apart.
• With knees slightly bent, extend the ball with outstretched arms.
• Hold and pull it in to hug the ball.
• Variation: Balance on one foot.
• Variation: Balance on one foot and extend the other leg outward.
• Supporting the earth:
• Place the ball behind you in the small of your back and lean against the wall.
• Squat with arms extended and hold the position for three to five seconds.
• Return to starting position.

Notes

• All ball activities may be performed against a wall for extra support.
• All of these activities can easily become an exercise ball circuit.

Variation
Have students create their own moves.