Carrying a chair

Material
A child chair to be carried

Presentation

Introduction
Prepare a child’s chair with sufficient space around it.  Invite 3-4 children to come participate in your lesson by telling them you have something to show them. Show each child where exactly to sit and once the children are seated, you sit so that you can see them all, they all can see you, and yet you are not in front of them. Call their attention to the chair and tell them that you are going to show them how to carry a chair.

Lifting

1. Stand on the side of the chair so that the back of the chair is on the left side of your body, and the seat of the chair is directly in front of your legs.
2. Place each foot so that each big toe touches the legs of the chair closest to your body.
3. Bend your knees until they touch the seat of the chair.
4. Wrap your left arm around the back of the chair.
5. Place your left thumb on the seat of the chair at the center of the backside of the seat.
6. Wrap your four left fingers around the base of the seat.
7. Place your right thumb opposite your left thumb at the front of the seat.
8. Wrap your right fingers around the base of the chair's seat.
9. Straighten your legs and in doing so lift the chair.
10. Bring the chair in close to you so that the seat of the chair is at the level of your lower stomach.
11. Check to see that all four of the chair's legs are pointing down.
12. Walk carefully to a designated space all the while checking that the walkway is clear of obstacles.
13. Come back to the spot of the demonstration.

Setting down

1. Bend your knees.
2. Carefully place the left leg of the chair closest to your body down first.
3. Place the right leg of the chair closest to your body down silently.
4. Place the two legs of the chair furthest away from your body down silently.
5. Remove your right four fingers from under the chair’s seat.
6. Lift your right thumb from on top of the chair’s seat.
7. Place your right arm at your side.
8. Remove your left four fingers from under the chair’s back part of the seat.
9. Lift your left thumb from the top of the chair’s back part of the seat.
10. Straighten your body to an erect position.
    

Once they have all had a turn, excuse them one at a time, making sure each child has thought of what he would like to de next.

Purpose

Direct:
Growth in independence with regard to the performance of the movements necessary for the carrying and placing of the chair without damaging oneself, others, or the chair. 

Indirect:
Coordination of the child’s movement, development of the muscles, and concentration.

Points of Interests
Looking to see if all four of the legs are pointing to the ground when the chair is lifted.

Age
2 1/2 - 3 1/2

Notes
Make sure you sit the children so that they will each have a clear view of the chair and of your actions.

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