An epic obstacle course

Occupational therapy

﻿Hi, I'm really looking forward to our lesson today. I hope you are too. Before we get started, this is just a little reminder. We're here to support any approaches you might already be using, and any work, you might have already been set. We know that this lesson is going to be going out to so many different children and families. So if you're not sure about anything or have any questions, then please do contact your usual therapy tip. I am so excited about today's lesson. We are going to be making an absolutely amazingly fantastic, epic obstacle course. I hope you are ready. I can't wait to see what you are going to come up with. Okay, so we have made it to the end of module one, and we have learned all about our gross motor skills. So everything that we have practised so far, is going to help you with your gross motor skills. We have been getting stronger. We have been improving our balance. Been getting much more accurate using our eyes, and our hands and our feet. And, I'm really, really, proud of how well you guys have done. Good gross motor skills means we'll find it easier, to make small movements. That sounds a bit odd, but it really does. And why are we ending with an obstacle course? Well, obstacle courses are one of my favourite things. It lets us practise all of the skills, that we have developed together. It helps us to improve our planning so we can think about different ways to use the toys and the furniture around us. Or if we're outside the garden furniture. We can be creative. We can challenge ourselves, and, we can make obstacle courses anywhere, with a lot of equipment, or little equipment. And obstacle courses are really fun. Okay, so, for today's lesson, you are going to need some space for you to move, from activity to activity. You can be indoors or outdoors. Just check with your parent or carer, and make sure that anything that you want to use is fine for you to use either in the room or outside. And, I would see if you can get them to take part, that will be fantastic. Then have a selection of games and toys like balls, or small toys to throw and catch, and masking tape. Okay, once you're ready, restart the video. Okay, your lounge could look something like this. So, with your parents or carer, set out your equipment, and try and think of activities that you can do on, both feet, such as jumping, tiptoe, walking, pretending to be walking on a trapeze, balancing on one foot. So hopping, or being a statute, crawling through something, or under something, like a blanket or under a table. Catching and throwing, practise while you're jumping or just standing on one leg, kicking, and dribbling between objects with your hands, and with your feet, and climbing. Okay. Now make a plan for your obstacle course, and make sure that you have instructions such as, jump over, jump to, crawl under, tiptoe, hop to, don't forget your directions. So, step to the right, the left, backwards, forwards, and you can also incorporate things such as saying, "Take three steps to the right and, one to the left." And you can change that. And, try doing something like clapping and catching. Okay. 'Cause you've practised your catching, and you're really good at that. So, some equipment ideas. You can use tables, chairs, blankets, cushions, hula hoops, ropes, balls. You can use socks, you can use shoes, masking tape, to mark out your course, and you can try and make the activity harder, by adding in more parts or, doing it all backwards. And that's going to be amazing, right? So, this is a little example of one that I've just drawn. So you can see where it says start. That's where I'll be starting. Then I'm going to bounce a big green ball, and while I bounce, I'm going to jump, both feet together to my little magic spots. Now, as you can see on my one, I've added loads of stars all around, so you can collect items like you're on a treasure hunt. Okay, then, I am going to, tiptoe. So the little rainbow spots are tiptoeing, collect another star. And then you can see I'm going to crawl under a chair. More stars to collect. I then see that there's some bean bags, little pink circles, and then I'm going to go into kneeling, and I'm going to take the bean bags and throw them, ahead of me onto some squares, or wherever my activity partner is telling me to. Then I'm going to stand up, and I'm going to hop, into the squares, and oh, can you see who's there? It's Buster. Oh no, he's got the green ball. So now I've got to chase, Buster, while I collect the stars, get the green ball from him, and then I'm ready to dribble it through the windy yellow path. Okay. So I'm very careful going to use the side of my foot, to dribble the ball, then I'm going to pick it up, and I'm going to very carefully, walk on the zigzag path, putting one foot in front of the other, very carefully, don't forget to connect your stars, all the way to the end. Then when you can see the rainbow spots, two spots means I've put both feet down. One spot means I'm hoping. So, jump, hop, jump, hop, hop, hop, collect the star, jump, hop, jump, hop, collect the star, jump, and then, ta da, you've done it. You're back to where you started. Okay. I want you to pause the video now, to plan and make your own epic obstacle course. I'm so excited to see what you're going to come up with. Restart the video once you're finished. There loads of different ways that you can change this activity. So, if you're struggling with ideas, ask your parent or carer, to help you think of activities to do. Try not to do the same activities each time. If you don't have lots of equipment, you can use the same things, in different ways. Okay? You could also have your parents or carer time you, to see if you can do the same course quicker each time. And, if you don't have many options, say choose six activities, give each activity a number from one to six, and then, roll a dice three times, to see what your course is going to be. And that means it's going to be different, every time. Remember, do the best for you. But mostly is have fun. If you'd like to please ask your parent or carer, to share your epic obstacle course, on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, tagging @OakNational and #LearnwithOak. Well done guys, see you soon.

An epic obstacle course

An epic obstacle course

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