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Physical Education

Freeze

Overview

Children move freely and stop completely still when the signal is given.

Learning Objective
Children develop body control and listening skills through movement and freezing.

Resources needed

  • Open space
  • Optional: music or a drum

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Children move around the space freely (walk, skip, jump).
  2. 2 When the teacher claps or says 'freeze', everyone stops completely still.
  3. 3 Hold the freeze for 3 seconds.
  4. 4 Call 'go' and children move again.
  5. 5 Try freezing in a shape: big, small, tall, thin.
  6. 6 Add a challenge: freeze on one leg.
  7. 7 End with a freeze and sit down slowly.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Freeze and hold a pose that shows an emotion.
  • Freeze in pairs holding hands.
  • Freeze on the floor as flat as possible.
More information

Teach: freeze, still, move, shape. Use a clear physical signal (clap or drum beat) as well as the word.

Accept any still position — not all children need to balance on one leg.

Can children freeze immediately and hold still? Do they respond to the signal rather than watching others?

No equipment needed. Clapping is a free signal. Works in any space.

Some children peek at others to know when to freeze. Use a blindfold challenge for confident children.

Develops self-regulation and body control. Can be used as a settling activity as well as a warm-up.

Activity details
Early Years Easy 10–15 minutes no prep Whole Class Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Movement Listening Body Control