Yoga Story “The Star Collectors”: Movement Story for Physical Education Class

“The Star Collectors” is a yoga story with picture cards and audio, in which the children become brave heroes who bring back the light of the fireflies. The movement story playfully introduces yoga exercises. The children can rock like a beetle in the grass, reach for the stars on the Mountain of Wisdom, and dance the firefly-bottom dance with joy. Fun and physical experiences are more important than the correct form of each pose.

What is included in the material

• Yoga story for reading aloud, with the sections for the yoga exercises marked
• Picture cards showing each yoga exercise from the story and its name
• Presentation with the yoga exercises in the order they appear in the story
• Audio file and video of the story for playing
• Instructions with different ways to use the story

Tips for using the material

• Reading aloud with picture cards: The story can be read aloud, while the appropriate picture card is held up or placed where it can be seen at the marked sections; the children perform the exercises as you go.
• Audio instead of reading aloud: Alternatively, the audio file can be played, also using the picture cards at the appropriate parts of the text.
• Demonstrating and imitating: The exercises can also be demonstrated while the story is being read aloud or the audio file is playing, and the children imitate the poses.
• With the video: For example, the video can be played on a projector and paused at the appropriate moments so that the children have enough time for each exercise.

These skills are promoted

• Balance in poses such as the standing scale
• Body awareness by trying different yoga poses
• Listening and following instructions, as the appropriate exercise follows at the marked sections of the story
• Imitating movements from a picture card or demonstration
• Imagination, as the children imagine themselves as fireflies and heroes

Organizational notes

The story can be used at home and at school and requires very little space. When using the picture cards, it is recommended to arrange them in the correct order beforehand.

Other yoga stories in the same series are The Treasure Hunt and The Best School Day; to complement them, there are also yoga picture cards and yoga posters for children.