Locomotor

Definition:

Locomotor movements or skills, is how we move our body through space. Walking, crawling, skipping, swimming, and jumping are examples locomotor movements!

Click on the underlined words or scroll down to go to that locomotor movement!

Sliding

How To:

  1. Body turned sideways so shoulders are perpendicular to path of travel (moving sideways)

  2. A step sideways with lead foot followed by a slide of the trailing foot to a point next to the lead foot

  3. Do not cross feet or legs

  4. Maintains a rhythmic pattern for consecutive slides

Galloping

How To:

  1. Arms bent and lifted to waist level at takeoff

  2. A step forward with the lead foot followed by a step with the trailing foot

  3. Do not let trail foot go in front of lead foot

  4. Brief period when both feet are off the floor

  5. Maintains a rhythmic pattern for consecutive gallops

Hopping

How To:

  1. Stand on one leg (support leg)

  2. Nonsupport leg swings forward in pendular fashion to produce force

  3. Foot of nonsupport leg remains behind body

  4. Arms flexed and swing forward to produce force

  5. Takes off and lands consecutive times on support leg

  6. Try hopping on the other leg!

Jumping

How To:

  1. Place both feet together (no wider than shoulder-width)

  2. Bend at both knees and at hips

  3. Arms prepared behind the body

  4. Forcefully extend (straighten) knees and hips

  5. During extension (straightening) swing arms in front of body and up over head

  6. Take off with both feet and land on both feet

  7. Arms thrust back down when landing for balance

Running

How To:

  1. Arms and legs move in opposition (step with right leg, swing forward with left arm)

  2. Brief period where both feet are off ground

  3. Feet should land on heel and transfer to toes

  4. Non-support leg should bend to 90 degrees at the knee

Leaping

How To:

  1. Start walking or running

  2. Take off on one foot and land on the opposite (take off on left foot and land on right foot)

  3. A period of where both feet are off the ground (imagine jumping over a line)

  4. Forward reach with the arm opposite the lead foot (left leg forward and right arm forward)

Skipping

How To:

  1. Step forward with right foot

  2. Raise left knee up for momentum

  3. Hop on right leg

  4. Step forward with left leg

  5. Raise right knee up for momentum

  6. Hop on left leg

  7. Swing both arms up during hop to assist with momentum

  8. Repeat in rhythmic patter

Ice Skating w/ Paper Plates