Control · Week 03 · Program week 27
Hopper the Frog
Jump and land · Courage
Land quietly and hold still for two seconds before the next move.
35 minutes · ages 3–8
Try this at home
We landed softly and stayed still for a short count.
- 1Jump toward a pillow on the floor, land, and freeze.
- 2A parent counts to two.
- 3If you stumble, move the pillow closer.
Stay on the floor. If it feels wobbly, make the challenge smaller.
Talk about courage
What does it feel like to stop yourself on purpose?
Look for this: They wait after landing instead of bouncing straight into another jump.
The story
Hopper lands and stays, like the water has gone still. Only then does he look for the next pad.
Bend, land, and try a better one.
What happens in class
Gather and story · 4 min
- Hopper lands and stays, like the water has gone still. Only then does he look for the next pad.
- Control is the pause after the landing. The jump is not finished until you are still.
- Children sit where they can see you and the equipment. Show the careful version once.
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quiet feet walking.
- Small jumps, whisper “soft” on the landing.
- Freeze game while standing.
Skill practice · 14 min
- Jump to a close spot. Coach counts “one, two” during the stick.
- If they fall forward, the next jump starts closer.
- Arms can reach forward for balance, then come back in during the count.
- Second round: they count their own two.
Game · 7 min
- The room must hear the quiet. After each landing, everyone waits.
- A child who chooses to step instead of jump still freezes and is celebrated.
- End with one class jump in place, then stillness.
Cool-down and character · 5 min
- Three breaths, hands on knees.
- Courage chose to try. Control chose to stop.