Hi, I’m Evie.
How are you feeling today?
It’s really important we take care of ourselves and recharge.
Today, we’re going to go deep into the jungle to do some recharging stretches and help our bodies feel strong and awake.
So first of all, let’s become the tallest tree in the jungle.
Keep your feet firmly rooted and stretch your arms up really tall.
Sometimes when we feel tired and we need to take some time out to help us recharge and to wake our body up!
Stretching is a great way to do that.
Now which animals do you think we might find in the jungle?
Let’s listen out …
I can hear a gorilla.
Can you?
Let’s pretend to be gorillas with their big burly shoulders.
Let’s roll our shoulders forward.
One, two, three, four.
And backwards, two, three, four.
Brilliant!
Can you guess the next animal?
Elephant. That’s right.
We're going to gently roll down our head to one side, lift up our arm and bring it back down.
This can be our elephant trunk.
Roll the other way, gently.
Lift up your trunk and bring it back down.
Great elephant stretching!
Let’s pretend to be a snake slithering all the way down to the jungle floor.
Start by rolling your head forward and keep rolling into your shoulders before bending and slithering all the way down to touch the jungle floor.
Are you ready?
Here we go.
One, two, three, four.
Now let's slither back up.
One, two, three, four.
Oh, that was amazing!
Let's do them all again.
Follow me.
We're going to be a tree.
Stretching, two, three.
And hold, two, three.
And relax.
Now we're going to be a gorilla so roll forward, two, three.
And back, two, three.
Very good. Now we're going to roll our head and lift up our elephant trunk up and down.
Roll, lift, down.
Now we're going to be a snake.
So down, two, three, four.
And up, two, three, four.
Wow that was great!
You all did so well!
Thanks for joining me in the jungle today.
I feel recharged and ready to go!
Let's say together
“I am tall, strong, and ready.”
“I am tall, strong, and ready.”
Hope to see you soon.
Bye!
CBeebies presenter Evie Pickerill uses a combination of slow, still and dynamic movements to encourage flexibility and mindfulness in this activity which aims to provide a ‘recharge’.
Set in a jungle environment, Evie leads the class through a series of different stretches inspired by the movements of different animals.
These movements can be used whenever pupils need to stop and take care of their posture, enhance self-esteem and give themselves a quick break.
It’s important to be able to recognise when we need to take some time out and this type of rest is the break our bodies and minds need in order to grow and flourish.
Teacher Notes
Phase and setting most suitable for: KS1 and KS2. Whole class movement.
When to use: Start of the day.See our Moodboosters School Timetable for more ideas.
Curriculum/topic/SEMH links: Geography - jungle, Emotional regulation
Teachers can use this activity to encourage pupils to make and strengthen connections with others to provide greater stability and safety in their lives. This can help them to deal with change when it occurs and recognise when it is necessary, temporary or more permanent.
Visit the Teacher Guide for more information and support.
Enrichment activities
- Jungle Affirmation Circle
Instructions: Stand in a circle and go around taking turns saying a jungle-inspired affirmation.Examples: “I am brave like a tiger,” “I am calm like a sloth,” “I am strong like a gorilla.”_
Encourage children to use a pose or action as they say their affirmation.
- Jungle Explorer Mood Check-In
Instructions: Ask: “How are you feeling before we explore the jungle?” (Happy, tired, excited, grumpy, etc.)
After the stretches, ask again: “How do you feel now?”
Reflect together: “Did the jungle movements help you feel more awake or happy?”
More from Recharge:
Power Off. video
Dr Ranj Singh slows things down and gets pupils to be present and recognise when they're tense to help them feel calmer and more focused.
A Moment in Nature. video
TV Presenter Rhys Stephenson encourages primary school pupils to employ all of their senses to enable them to deal with the day ahead.
Breathe and Be. video
TV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing champion Oti Mabuse inspires pupils to explore breathwork and movement in this classroom activity.
Balance and Be. video
Olympian Bethany Shriever guides children using visualisation techniques to experiment how changing thoughts can affect our balance, mentally and physically.
Take It Slow. video
Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden mimics a sloth and combines imagination and yoga-inspired poses to help children relax.
Self-Belief Warriors. video
Dr Ranj Singh leads pupils through a series of strong and empowering poses, helping to create positive mindsets and develop feelings of self-worth.
Meditation Station - Feeling Thankful. video
Ade Adepitan introduces techniques to teach children how to control their breathing to regulate feelings and emotions.
LOL Time. video
CBBC presenters Rhys Stephenson and Joe Tasker lead this fun activity that encourages children to work in pairs and make their partner laugh.
Pirouette to Peace. video
Evie Pickerill and Oti Mabuse teach some basic ballet moves that encourage primary school children to slow down, pause and take a break.
More from Moodboosters:
Boost. collection
Energetic, movement-based activities promoting self-confidence in children by encouraging them to use movement and positive thinking to build self-esteem.
Connect. collection
Fun, movement-based activities for children centring on relationships and how to recognise emotions in others through empathy.
Imagine. collection
Learning activities to promote creativity and optimism in children whilst encouraging them to use their imagination to envision their goals and aspirations.
Teacher's guide
Curriculum-linked ideas and tips about how you can use Moodboosters with your class during the school day.
Watch again - our live launch. video
Watch highlights as children from around the nations join together for a big mood-boosting moment.
About Moodboosters
Everything you need to know about our initiative to get KS1 / KS2 pupils moving for mental health and wellbeing.
