Action story read-aloud: a 15-minute 1st grade movement break

1. Skim the book first and choose 4 verbs that come up more than once, such as run, jump, climb and swim.
2. Write each verb on a sticky note and agree on a move: run (fast feet in place), jump (2 soft jumps), climb (reach up hand over hand), swim (arm strokes).
3. Read the story. When students hear one of the words, they stand, do the move for about 5 seconds and sit back down.
4. Halfway through, add a twist: on the word "stop" or "sleep," everyone freezes.
5. After the story, students retell it using only the moves, in order, while you say the verbs.
6. Close by asking which word made them move most often and why the author might have used it so much.

Safety: students stay in their own spot with room to stand and reach; jumps are small and soft. Every session: warm up first, clear the space, keep water nearby, and stop if anything hurts or a student feels dizzy or unwell.

Differentiation: students who need support can do the moves seated or with arms only. Students who are ready can choose a fifth word and invent its move. English learners can see a small picture next to each word on the sticky notes.

Quick check: say two of the action words. Each student shows the matching moves and uses one of the words in a sentence.

For a full year of free grade 1 PE sessions, see Move Every Day from UpOnly Learning.

Which picture books get your students moving? Share a title and the action words you use with it.