Animal Moves

Use “Animal Moves” to encourage movement in a variety of ways. Animal moves can be used in warm-ups and cool-downs and as a part of many activities in the lesson. Encourage children to explore and create their own animal moves.

Bear Walk

  • Get in position with hands and feet touching the floor.
  • Move the foot and the hand on the same side together, then the other side (right hand, right foot, left hand, left foot).
  • Keep arms and legs stiff.

Rabbit Hop

  • Squat, placing hands on the floor in front of feet.
  • Move the hands first, then move feet to hands.

Elephant Walk

  • Bend forward at the waist.
  • Clasp hands together, arms straight to form a trunk.
  • Walk with big slow steps, keeping the legs straight.
  • Swing trunk from side to side.

Gorilla Walk

  • Bend knees and move upper body forward.
  • Let arms hang at sides.
  • As each step is taken, touch floor with fingers.

Cricket/Chicken Walk

  • Squat with knees apart.
  • Place arms between the knees and grasp the outside of the ankles with hands.

Seal Walk

  • Get in a push-up position (straight arms and straight legs).
  • Walk forward with the hands and drag the feet.

Crab Walk

  • Squat down and reach back with arms (fingers are pointed away from the body).
  • Touch the floor with only feet and hands.
  • Move backward.

Frog Jump

  • Squat down, placing hands on the floor slightly in front of feet.
  • Jump forward with hands and feet at the same time.

Camel Walk

  • Place one foot in front of the other and bend at the waist.
  • Clasp hands behind the back.
  • Walk, raising head and chest with each step.

Kangaroo Hop

  • Begin in a squat position and fold arms across chest.
  • Keep body weight over toes.
  • Jump up and forward, landing on feet.

Inchworm

  • Begin with hands and feet touching the floor, hands close to feet.
  • Bend knees slightly.
  • Reach hands forward, bring feet up to meet hands.

Alligator

  • Move along the floor, staying as low as possible.
  • Keep feet and hands close to body.
  • Keep head in line with back.

Mouse

  • Run with weight on hands and feet, taking little steps.

Cat

  • Spring forward from a crouch, from feet to hands.

Penguin Walk

  • Place both legs together and feet point outward towards side.
  • Place arms straight against body with hands facing outward.
  • Shuffle forward, waving hands and staying very straight.

Turtle Walk

  • Move forward in push-up position.
  • Keep back as straight as possible – it is the shell!