Noodle Movement Lesson Plans
3
Day 3 Complete Lesson • 30 Mins Total Unit: Locomotor & Noodles
Noodles: Balancing Act, Gymnast & Mirror This
Skill Focus Levels, Shapes & Mirroring
Area Setup Gym • 4 Cones (30x30)
Equipment 1 Noodle per student
Golden Rule Noodle is a tool, not a sword!
Freeze Cue "Freeze, Statues!"
Lesson Flow: 0–5m: Gallop & Carry → 5–13m: Balancing Act → 13–22m: Gymnast → 22–27m: Mirror This → 27–30m: Cool-Down
5 Mins Part 1: Warm-Up
Gallop Bridge & Safe Noodle Handling
Echo chant Day 1–2 gallop rules: "Captain foot stays boss! Quiet pony hooves!" Students gallop in open space holding noodle horizontally as handlebars. On whistle, freeze and hold noodle at low (toes), medium (belly), or high (overhead) level.
8 Mins Part 2: Levels
Balancing Act (Noodles Card Part 1) Outcome: Levels & Statues
• Body Levels: Balance noodle horizontally on palm, back of wrist, thigh, and foot at low (crouched), medium (kneeling), and high (tiptoes) levels.
• Statues: Lay noodle horizontally on floor to strike a wide statue; balance noodle vertically on floor to form a narrow, tall statue.
9 Mins Part 3: Shapes
Gymnast (Noodles Card Part 1) Outcome: Non-Manipulative
• Weight Transfer: Place noodle on floor. Transfer weight over noodle using two-hand bunny hops and step-overs.
• Plank Under Noodle: Hold plank position with hands over noodle; hold flat back for 5 seconds.
• Extensions & Twists: Stretch noodle far away from body (high extension); hold near chest and twist smoothly side to side.
5 Mins Part 4: Partner
Mirror This (Noodles Card Part 2) Outcome: Relationships
• Teacher Lead: Teacher leads stationary noodle movement workout; students mirror movements smoothly.
• Partner Mirror: Facing a partner, Partner A leads slow stationary noodle poses (high/low/wide); Partner B mirrors. Switch roles on whistle.
Quick Troubleshooting for Kindergarteners
What You See (Common Error) What to Say & Correct
Noodle swinging or sword fighting "Noodles are balance tools! Glue them to your hands and protect your bubble."
Sagging hips during plank "Make a flat bridge! Belly button pulled up tight to the sky."
Key Cues to Shout • "Airplane arms out! Eyes glued to noodle center!" • "Wide statue like an eagle; narrow statue like a pencil!"
Cool-Down & Pony Breathing (3 Mins) • Sit criss-cross. Inhale arms up with noodle; exhale horse breath flapping lips. • Debrief: "Which level was hardest to balance: low, medium, or high?"
4
Day 4 Complete Lesson • 30 Mins Total Unit: Locomotor & Noodles
Gallop Tag, Falling Down & The Rocket
Skill Focus Gallop Tag, Reaction & Volley
Area Setup Gym • 4 Cones (30x30)
Equipment 1 Scarf/Tail & 1 Noodle / pair
Golden Rule No tail guarding! Pony gallop only!
Freeze Cue "Freeze, Ponies!"
Lesson Flow: 0–10m: Catch a Tail Tag → 10–16m: Falling Down (6m) → 16–22m: The Rocket (6m) → 22–26m: Partner Challenge → 26–30m: Cool-Down
10 Mins Part 1: Tag Game
Warm-Up Game: "Catch a Tail" Galloping Tag Day 2 Revisit • SPARK Game
Students tuck scarf into waistband (12" hanging). Strictly GALLOP ONLY—no running!
• Round 1: Right Foot Lead (5 Mins): Gallop with Right foot leading ("Captain stays boss!"). Pull tails while dodging chasers. Pulled tails go on the floor. If tail is taken, do 5 star-jumps, re-tuck, and rejoin!
• Round 2: Left Foot Lead (5 Mins): Switch to Left foot leading for the entire round. Catch & Release keeps all kindergarteners continuously active and moving!
6 Mins Part 2: 6 Min
Activity 1: Falling Down (Noodles Card Part 2) Outcome: Reaction & Cooperation
• Setup: Partners face each other 3–4 feet apart. Partner A balances noodle vertically on open palm of non-dominant (left) hand.
• Countdown & Catch: Partner B counts aloud: "3, 2, 1!" On "1," Partner A removes palm. Partner B accelerates forward to catch the noodle before it touches the gym floor.
• Swap: Complete 4 catches each, then trade roles. If successful, take 1 step back to increase challenge!
6 Mins Part 3: 6 Min
Activity 2: The Rocket (Noodles Card Part 2) Outcome: Underhand Volley
• Launch Stance: Hold noodle vertically in a loose grip 6 inches from bottom. Empty hand open below with flat palm.
• Blast Off Strike: Count down aloud: "5, 4, 3, 2, 1... BLAST OFF!" Strike bottom of noodle with flat palm to underhand volley it straight up into the air.
• Catch: Track rocket with eyes and catch with two soft hands before floor impact. Try for 3 clean catches in a row!
4 Mins Part 4: Combo
Partner Rocket & Reaction Challenge Outcome: Partner Synthesis
Partners combine both skills: Partner A launches The Rocket into the air, and Partner B rushes in to catch it before it lands! Trade turns for 5 launches each. Celebrate successful partner catches with a double-noodle high-five!
Quick Troubleshooting for Kindergarteners
What You See (Common Error) What to Say & Correct
Running fast instead of galloping during tag "Pony gallop only! Captain foot in front—let me hear those soft pony hooves!"
Striking noodle sideways into friend "Flat palm straight up! Pop the rocket straight to the clouds, not forward."
Key Cues to Shout • "Falling Down: Spring forward on '1' with two soft hands!" • "The Rocket: Flat palm underneath—pop straight up!"
Cool-Down & Heart Rate Check (4 Mins) • Return to home dots. Hand on heart: "Can you feel your heart thumping fast like pony hooves?" • Thumbs Up Check: "Thumbs up if you kept your Captain Foot in front during tag!"
