Zoo Safari Lesson Plan
PE Curriculum β’ Grades K-2 45 Minutes
Zoo Safari: Hopping, Jumping & Galloping
Unit: Locomotor Skills
Lesson Plan #1
Focus Skills
Hop (1 to same), Jump (2 to 2), Gallop (lead foot)
Safety Space
Gymnasium or open field; 6 ft bubble spacing
Equipment
Poly spots, jump ropes, cones, foam hurdles
Standards
SHAPE Standard 1 (E1.K-2 Locomotor mechanics)
Learning Objectives
Psychomotor
Demonstrate hopping on either foot 5 times, jumping with two-foot soft landing, and continuous forward galloping.
Cognitive
Distinguish verbally between a hop (1 to same) and a jump (2 to 2), explaining the "motorcycle soft landing" concept.
Affective
Encourage classmates along the safari course, respect safety boundaries, and share equipment cooperatively.
Locomotor Mechanics & Verbal Cues
Movement 1 The Hop
Foot Pattern: 1 foot takeoff to SAME foot.
Verbal Cue: "Spring & Stick! Soft quiet knee."
Zoo Persona: Flamingo Stomp
Movement 2 The Jump
Foot Pattern: 2 feet takeoff to 2 feet landing.
Verbal Cue: "Bend low, explode, motorcycle landing!"
Zoo Persona: Leaping Frog
Movement 3 The Gallop
Foot Pattern: Step forward, back foot chases.
Verbal Cue: "Step-slide-step! Front toes forward."
Zoo Persona: Safari Stallion
Phase 1: Safari Awakening Warm-Up (8-10 Minutes)
1
Ranger Freeze Walk (3 min):
Students move safely inside general space. Teacher calls out safari signals: "Tall Giraffe" (tiptoe march), "Sleeping Lion" (curl on ground), "Elephant Trunk" (arm swings).
2
Dynamic Joint Prep & Animal Wiggles (3 min):
Ankle circles, high-knee marches, and wrist shakes to prepare feet and joints for landing forces.
3
Call-and-Response Mechanics Drill (3 min):
Teacher says: "Show me a Flamingo!" (students stand on 1 foot and freeze). "Show me a Frog!" (deep squat, 2-foot spring). "Show me a Galloping Pony!" (continuous rhythm on cue).
Zoo Safari PE Lesson Plan β’ Locomotor Foundations Page 1 of 2
Phase 2: Safari Obstacle Course Stations (25 Minutes)
4 Stations β’ 5-6 min Rotation
A Lily Pad Lagoon Jump (2 to 2)
Setup: 6 green poly spots scattered across a blue gym mat.
Action: Bullfrog deep squat, two-foot takeoff, two-foot "motorcycle" landing with bent shock-absorbing knees.
Cue: "Bend low, explode, soft stick landing!"
B Flamingo Marsh Hop (1 to same)
Setup: Agility ladder or 6 taped pink squares.
Action: 3-count flamingo balance, then hop on 1 foot through squares, switch feet halfway with high tucked knee.
Cue: "Spring off your toes, land quiet on same foot!"
C Prairie Pony Trail Gallop (Lead foot)
Setup: Winding cone slalom path with noodle reins.
Action: Continuous step-together-step gallop rhythm weaving cones; switch lead foot at the safari watering hole cone.
Cue: "Clip-clop! Back hoof never overtakes front hoof!"
D Kangaroo Ravine Hurdle Bounding
Setup: 3 low soft foam hurdles (4-6 in) or floor ropes.
Action: Two-footed continuous bounding over obstacles into hoops; emphasize arm swing and landing balance.
Cue: "Up and over! Absorb like safari jeep shock absorbers!"
Formative Assessment Checklist
| Locomotor Skill | Developing (Needs Guidance) | Proficient (Target Mastery) |
|---|
| Hop (Flamingo) | Switches feet mid-hop or lands flat-footed with stiff knee. | Pushes off ball of foot, lands softly on same foot 4+ times. |
| Jump (Frog/Roo) | Takes off or lands one foot at a time; hard noisy landing. | Simultaneous two-foot takeoff and soft bent-knee landing. |
| Gallop (Horse) | Crosses feet over or turns hips into a sideways slide. | Forward rhythmic step-slide-step with lead foot always front. |
Phase 3: Cool-Down (7 Min)
- Campfire Circle: Slow hippo deep breathing and hamstring stretches.
- Key Reflection: "What makes a hop different from a jump?"
- Safety Check: "Why do we always land with soft, bent knees?"
Differentiation & Safety
- Support: Offer wall handrail for single-foot balance; shorten spacing between poly spots.
- Challenge: Call out lead-foot switches mid-gallop; increase jump obstacle height to 8 inches.
Zoo Safari PE Lesson Plan β’ Locomotor Foundations Page 2 of 2
Wild Moves Warmup Cards
Safari Warm-Up & Station Visuals
Wild Moves Warm-Up Cards
Display or Station Cards
Cards 1 & 2 of 4
πΈ
Station Card 1 Skill: 2-Foot Jump
Froggy Pond Springs
Rhythm Call "Squat, Leap, Stick!"
1 Frog Squat
Feet flat on ground, knees wide, touch fingertips to floor between toes.
2 Explode Up
Push through both feet at the exact same time! Arms swing high to sky.
3 Motorcycle Stick
Land on both feet together with soft bent knees. No loud stomping!
Ranger Form Secret: "Quiet feet like a sneaking frogβabsorb the bounce!"
Repeat 8 Times
π¦©
Station Card 2 Skill: 1-Foot Hop
Flamingo Balance & Hop
Rhythm Call "One Foot, Same Foot!"
1 Flamingo Perch
Lift one knee up high. Fold wings (hands on hips or spread wide for balance).
2 Toe Spring
Spring off the ball of your standing foot. Keep lifted foot up in the air!
3 Stick the Same Foot
Land gently on the exact same foot without dropping the other foot down!
Ranger Form Secret: "Look at a still spot on the wall to lock your balance!"
5 Hops Right β’ 5 Hops Left
Zoo Safari PE β’ Wild Moves Warm-Up Cards Page 1 of 2
Safari Warm-Up & Station Visuals
Wild Moves Warm-Up Cards
Display or Station Cards
Cards 3 & 4 of 4
π
Station Card 3 Skill: Lead-Foot Gallop
Wild Stallion Gallop
Rhythm Call "Step, Slide, Step!"
1 Pick Your Lead
Step your favorite hoof out in front. Point toes directly where you want to travel.
2 Back Hoof Chases
The back foot slides forward to catch upβbut NEVER crosses in front of the leader!
3 Clip-Clop Bounce
Spring into a continuous, rolling rhythm with both arms holding invisible reins.
Ranger Form Secret: "Keep belly button and toes facing forward, not sideways!"
10 Steps Right Lead β’ 10 Steps Left Lead
π
Station Card 4 Skill: Joint Mobility & Agility
Cheetah Prowl & Canopy Stretch
Rhythm Call "Prowl, Spring, Freeze!"
1 Low Prowl Walk
Creep forward silently on the balls of your feet with knees bent low to the ground.
2 Tall Giraffe Reach
Safari Obstacle Course Activity
Safari Ranger Mission Log
Safari Obstacle Course Passport
Ranger Level: K-2
Ranger Name:
Date:
Safari Team / Class:
Ranger Mission: Travel to each zoo habitat! Complete the animal movement challenge, collect your station stamp, and rate your soft landings!
πΈ
Zone 1: Lily Pad Lagoon Frog Jump (2 to 2)
Jump across all 6 lily pads with both feet taking off and landing together!
Landing
Stamp Here
π¦©
Zone 2: Flamingo Marsh Flamingo Hop (1 to Same)
Balance for 3 counts, then hop through the marsh squares on one foot!
Balance
Stamp Here
π
Zone 3: Prairie Pony Trail Gallop Rhythm (Lead Foot)
Gallop through the cone trail keeping your lead hoof out front the whole time!
Rhythm
Stamp Here
π¦
Zone 4: Kangaroo Canyon Hurdle Bounding
Bound over the low obstacles with soft motorcycle landings every time!
Bounce
Stamp Here
Ranger Sketchbook: Draw You as a Safari Animal!
Show your feet hopping, jumping, or galloping!
Safari Obstacle Course Activity β’ Ranger Passport Page 1 of 2
Part 2 β’ Brain & Body Challenge
Safari Movement Detective
Check Your Knowledge
Mission 1: Match the Animal to its Foot Pattern!
Draw a straight line from each safari animal on the left to its secret movement clue on the right.
πΈ
Frog Jump Two-foot spring
β·
A 1 foot takes off β Lands on the SAME foot.
π¦©
Flamingo Hop Single-foot balance
β·
B 2 feet take off together β 2 feet land together.
π
Wild Horse Gallop Lead-foot rhythm
β·
C Lead foot stays in front β Back foot chases.
Mission 2: Safari Ranger True or False!
1. When landing from a jump, keep your knees straight and stiff like a tree trunk.
TRUE FALSE
2. In a gallop, the back foot should never jump ahead of the lead foot.
TRUE FALSE
3. Looking at a spot on the wall helps you stay balanced like a flamingo.