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Creative Play. Years: 1-3, Key Area of Learning: Physical Activity
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In search of Tarzan
Machines alive
Me and my shadow
Muscle dancing
Helping Hogsnort
Game-making
Scurrying slaters
Ship ahoy!
Whatever the weather
Celebrating many ways
Monster masks
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Possible learning experiences

In search of Tarzan

Suggested learning outcomes

Students will:

  • develop a range of movements in order to express themselves (1B1);

  • say what they enjoyed about taking part in an imaginative activity (1B2).

Underlying concepts

Attitudes and values

Learning and developing positive attitudes towards exploring movement.

Possible learning activities

To motivate the students:

  • use forest or jungle noises from music or film soundtracks;
  • read a jungle story.

Introduce an imaginative story activity by telling your students: "We're going on an adventure in search of Tarzan, King of the Jungle." Ask the students to develop and elaborate on the story using brainstorming, discussion, and movement. As the students develop the story step by step, discuss the following aspects.

  • What might the jungle be like?

  • What could we see (under, over, between, through, and past things), hear (bird and animal sounds, leaves rustling, water dripping), feel (textures of the ground, slime, water, rocks, bark), and smell?

  • How might we move through the jungle to find Tarzan (by crossing, stretching, crawling, reaching, pulling, pushing, holding, swinging, slipping, falling, sliding, tripping, marching, twisting, squeezing, dodging, jumping, running, and walking over, through, under, and around mountains, caves, rivers, treetops, rocks, and cliffs)?

  • What will we take with us on our journey? How will we take it?

  • Where will Tarzan be in the jungle? How can we reach him?

  • What could we do to look after our partner when on our journey? How do we take care not to damage the jungle?

The students can brainstorm a journey as a group and then physically move through their created adventure with a partner.

After completing their journey, the students can describe what they did and what made this an enjoyable activity for them (1B2).

Variations and extensions to this activity could include the following:

  • Replace Tarzan with Xena or with a taniwha, wētā, or kiwi.
  • The students could consider different ways of moving in different environments with their own kinds of obstacles to encounter.

Assessment opportunity

Students state what they enjoyed about moving in an imagined environment (1B2).


Teachers' notes

This activity requires an environment with space to move in, which may include obstacles, lines, playground apparatus, and other equipment.

Movement skills

This activity encourages the students to explore movements such as crawling, twisting, dodging, and swaying.

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