Grasshopper Groove

  • Strengthens legs
  • Strengthens abdominals, which are important for upright posture and body control
  • Strengthens the upper limb, which is important for pre-writing, handwriting and fine motor control 
  • Provides deep pressure proprioceptive input to the muscles and joints, which assists in emotional regulation
  • Helps children ‘use up’ excess energy by doing a physically demanding exercise
HANDOUT
PRACTISE JOURNAL
TECHNIQUE VIDEO

Uses

  • Use this exercise just before handwriting and other fine motor activities, because it activates the core and upper limb muscles.
  • Use this exercise after lunch breaks, to help students feel calm, alert and ready to learn.

Instructions

  1. Start standing, with feet shoulder-width apart
  2. Squat down, with your knees kept wide, and put your hands flat on the floor
  3. Jump your feet back into a full push-up position
  4. Lower your knees to the floor
  5. Do a push-up (down and back up)
  6. Jump your feet back towards your hands (Frog Squat position)
  7. Push your heels into the floor to stand or jump up, reaching your hands up into the air
child_girl_grasshopper_groove_1_1
child_girl_grasshopper_groove_2_1
child_girl_grasshopper_groove_3_1
child_girl_grasshopper_groove_4_1

Watch Points

  • Abdominal muscles squeezed 
  • Back straight
  • Shoulders down and back
  • Feet, knees and hands kept shoulder-width apart

Seated:

  • Curl your body down to touch your toes.  Then straighten your body back up as quickly as you can (as though you’re jumping up), reaching your hands up high into the air.    

Do the Grasshopper Groove…

  • Standing up instead of jumping and/or 
  • Stepping your feet in and out of the push-up position, instead of jumping

Progress Tracker

How many of the Grasshopper Groove can you do in a row?