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Physical Education

Ribbon Dance

Overview

Children hold a long strip of cloth and move it through the air in different patterns while moving around the space.

Learning Objective
Children develop coordination and creative movement by waving and tracing patterns with a ribbon or strip of cloth.

Resources needed

  • Long strips of cloth or ribbon — one per child (50–100 cm)

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Give each child a strip of cloth.
  2. 2 Wave it up and down while walking slowly.
  3. 3 Make big circles in the air.
  4. 4 Try figure-of-eight movements.
  5. 5 Move the ribbon up high, then down low.
  6. 6 Walk, skip, and run while keeping the ribbon moving.
  7. 7 Children create their own ribbon pattern and show a partner.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Move the ribbon to a slow beat — then a fast beat.
  • Pairs: move ribbons without touching each other.
  • Create a group ribbon shape — all move together.
More information

Teach: wave, circle, high, low, fast, slow, pattern. Demonstrate each movement before children copy — no verbal explanation needed.

Seated children can do all ribbon movements from a chair — upper body and arm range of motion is the focus.

Are children varying their ribbon movements or repeating the same action? Are they using their whole arm rather than just the wrist?

Strips of old cloth, torn fabric, or long grass tied together all work. No purchased ribbon or equipment needed.

Children flick the ribbon quickly without any flow. Teach slow, continuous movement first — the ribbon should always be moving, never still.

Ribbon activities develop gross motor coordination, spatial awareness, and creative expression. They are used in rhythmic gymnastics and early years dance worldwide.

Activity details
Early Years Easy 15 minutes 5 minutes prep Whole Class, Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Rhythmic Movement Coordination Creativity