Opening Warm-Ups· Movement prep
Move Like a Pup
At a glance
Fundamental movement skills and body control
- Learning
- Fundamental movement skills, changing speed and controlling the body.
- Equipment
- No kit needed
- Best group
- Whole class as one group
- Space / set up
- Children spread out, coach central.
- Duration
- 5 minutes
- Skills
- Movement
Setup
Coaching diagram
- Coach (and optional second adult)
- Child in their own space
- Optional area cone
- Children spread safely around the area with space on all sides.
- Coach central so every child can see the demonstration.
How to play
Run the activity
- 1Coach names a Pup movement and children move that way.
- 2“Tiny Pup!” — small quick steps. “Strong Pup!” — powerful controlled steps.
- 3“Sleepy Pup!” — slow movement. “Bouncy Pup!” — small jumps.
- 4“Speedy Pup!” — quick feet. “Sneaky Pup!” — quiet controlled movement.
- 5Ask children to invent their own Pup movement and name it.
Coach language
Say it like this
- “Show me your movement!”
- “Can you control it?”
- “Find your space!”
Stage
Early Years / KS1
This activity is suitable for ages 3–7. Choose a stage to see the coaching guidance for that group.
Emphasise imagination and big obvious movements. Copy the Coach: simple whole-body movements with slower changes.
Scale it
30 pups
- Works as one large group if the space is big enough.
- Coach demonstrates in the middle and turns to face each side.
- For Copy the Coach, the teacher mirrors the coach at the back so nobody is guessing.
Safety
Stay safe and strong
- Keep children spread out.
- Avoid maximal sprinting.
- Ensure adequate spacing before any jumping movement.
Coaching options
Adapt the activity
Make it easier
Coach demonstrates every movement first, and slows the movements down.
Variations
Copy the Coach
Children face the coach in a wide arc and copy each movement straight away: quick feet, side steps, jump and land, squat, turn, balance, reach and a rugby passing shape. Keep transitions quick, then finish with a controlled movement before PAWS/READY.
Invent a Pup
Children name and demonstrate their own Pup movement.
Pup chains
Three movements in a row to remember.
Sequence memory
Coach shows 2–3 movements in order, then children repeat them with no second demonstration.
Child coach
A child leads one round from the front.
Level it up
Combine two movement instructions — “Sneaky Pup into Speedy Pup!” — or a sequence of 2–3 copied movements to remember.
PAWS connection
PAWS / READY
Secondary PAWS links
P: really commit to each movement • S: control it and keep your own space