take part in group activities that encourage participation, co-operation, and negotiation by all members (2C1);
move alongside others, sharing space and equipment (1C2).

Underlying concepts

Socio-ecological perspective

Recognising the need for mutual care and responsibility.

Possible learning activities

To motivate the students, the class could search for slaters, or the teacher could bring slaters to school. The students can watch how the slaters move, what they do, and where they go.

Talk with the students about how slaters move. Then organise groups of five to eight students. Ask them, "How can we show with our bodies how a slater moves?" Each group can choose their slater shell (which can be made before the activity or selected from the resource materials described in the teachers' notes). The students get on their hands and knees under their slater shell and experiment with ways to move their slater without losing their shell.
The students can give their slater a name beginning with S.
Working together, the students can attempt to move their slater from designated points A to B without losing their shell. When each group feels confident about their ability to move their slater, they can plan and create an adventurous pathway for their slater to travel (2C1).

Variations and extensions to this activity could include the following:

Groups could demonstrate how their slater can roll onto its back, wriggle its legs, and get upright again.
Each group of students could hold on to the ankles of the person in front of them while moving their slater over a designated area.
The students could create their own slater games.

Assessment opportunity

As a group, students can respond to the following questions:

Were you all able to take part in the activity?
What sort of problems did you have?
How did you solve them? (2C1)

Teachers' notes

Resources required for this activity could include:

gym mats, blankets, cardboard, tarpaulins, mattresses, or large pieces of plastic;
obstacles such as cones, suspended hoops, low benches, and lines on the playground;
access to an adventure playground.

Movement skills

When developing movement skills, the students learn how to control their movements as they use their spatial awareness and their energy and as they move at different levels.