Notes for adults

Age 5 · 15 min · Medium

Walk through the spaceship, jump on the Moon, practice balancing, and count down to launch!

Learning objectives

• Walk along a line on the floor.
• Make small jumps and try balancing on one foot, with support if needed.
• Join in a countdown from 5 to 0.

What you need

• Printed picture sheet
• Tape that can be secured to the floor without loose ends
• A sturdy chair or wall for support, if needed

Safety notes

Supervise play. Keep the floor dry and clear of obstacles, and secure all tape ends. Keep movements on the floor; do not climb on furniture. Offer sturdy support and allow breaks. No one has to jump or stand on one foot.

How to do it

1. Clear a space and make a straight line on the floor with tape.
2. Show your child the pictures and invite them on a pretend trip through space.
3. Demonstrate walking slowly along the line as if you were inside a spaceship.
4. Invite your child to follow the line, then make small jumps as if they were on the Moon.
5. Ask them to try balancing on one foot for a few seconds, using support if they like.
6. Count together: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0! At zero, raise your arms for liftoff.
7. Finish by breathing slowly and talking about the trip.

Teaching suggestions

• Praise effort by saying, “You went slowly and tried again!”
• Offer a hand, a wall, or a sturdy chair to anyone who would like support while balancing.
• Once your child knows the course, invite them to choose the order of the movements.
• In a group, have one child at a time use the line while the others count together.

Variations

• Easier: Walk beside the line, take steps instead of jumping, and balance with both feet on the floor.
• Harder: Walk along the line with one foot in front of the other, and try balancing for five seconds.
• Extension: Invent another astronaut movement and add it to the trip.

Talk about it

• What did you imagine it would be like to walk inside the spaceship?
• What helped you balance?
• What were your jumps like on the pretend Moon?
• Where will your rocket travel?

What to look for

• Notice whether your child follows the line while walking, with or without support.
• Watch whether they try jumping and balancing in ways that work for them.
• Listen for their participation in the countdown, with help as needed.