Your Cerebellum helps you balance, dance, ride a bike.

Description: In this game, students will use their bodies to do some of the things the Cerebellum does best!

What You Will Need

• Space for children to stand and move
• Computer or other way to play music
• Masking tape or rope to create a balance beam on floor
• Optional: Ladder
• Optional: Balance Beam

Step-By-Step:

Part One: Balance

Start by listening to ‘It’s Me, Cerebellum’ from the Every Body Has a Brain soundtrack.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/every-body-has-a-brain/id403630644

Listen to ‘Cerebellum Helps You Move and Go,’ a fast tune from the Every Body Has a Brain soundtrack that kids will enjoy. Follow with a slower Every Body Has a Brain tune: ‘It’s Me, Cerebellum!’

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/every-body-has-a-brain/id403630644

Say: Today we are going to use our Cerebellum to balance and move! The Cerebellum is a part of the brain that helps us to move, and balance, so we can do things like dance and ride a bike.

Start with a balance activity where children balance in one place.

Have children stand up in on one foot for 20 seconds. Count out loud all together. Try this activity until most kids have a chance to balance successfully.

For students who are ready to move on, introduce the following moving balance activity.

Have students practice balancing on a strip of tape or a length of rope on the floor. Allow students to have a few turns to walk across the tape or rope. Suggest that they try stretching out their arms. Ask: Does this help you with balance?

If you have a balance beam available, now try the same activity using the balance beam.

Optional: Place a ladder on the floor. Children may begin by walking inside the rungs. They may next try walking on or straddling the edges.

Part Two: Dance

Say: We are going to use our Cerebellum to move and dance! Dancing takes balance and rhythm.

Turn on some music and dance!

Song: Cerebellum Helps You Move and Go

Start by listening to ‘Cerebellum Helps You Move and Go,’ a fast tune from the Every Body Has a Brain soundtrack that kids will enjoy. Follow with a slower Every Body Has a Brain tune: ‘It’s Me, Cerebellum!’

Try different styles of music your class enjoys to help kids get moving.

Remind students that their Cerebellum helps them dance and move!

Further Exploration

Use these games and stories from Every Body Has a Brain to learn more about the Cerebellum:

• Brainboard
• Maze
• Phoebe rides a Bike