There are two versions to the Active Alphabet Challenge. The first part is an individual challenge: work through the alphabet finding a movement or balance for each letter! How many can you come up with? There is a full list of suggestions for you to try below.

The second Active Alphabet Challenge is easiest with a partner or small group. Use your bodies to make each letter of the alphabet (for example, for ‘T’ you could have one person lie on the floor with their feet together and arms squeezed in to their sides. Then a second person could lie on the floor just above the first person’s head, making the top of the letter T). This is a great co-operative challenge.

Active Alphabet Challenge

AArabesque – Stand on one leg, with your arms outstretched to the sides, and lift your other leg as high as you can behind you, keeping both legs straight.

BBend – Bend down and see if you can touch your toes. What other bends can you think of? You could also Balance, or Bounce.

CCrawl – move along the ground on your hands and knees. You could also Climb (over the sofa perhaps) or Crab walk (on your hands and feet, stomach facing upwards).

DDance – put on come music and make up your own! You could also try a “Dish Hold” – Lie on your back with your legs together and lift your head, arms and legs off the ground at the same time.

EElevate your legs – Sit down and lift your legs off the floor one at a time. Try to keep your legs straight! You can lean backwards onto your arms to stay in balance. If you have a partner, you could also try the Elephant Walk – put one arm between your legs (this is your tail). Get your partner to put their hand out in front (this is their trunk) and hold your hand. Now walk! If you have more people, try it in a line.

FForward Roll – In a space with a soft floor (e.g. a rug), do a roll that starts and ends facing forwards where your head goes underneath and your feet go over the top. Alternatively, you could Flap your arms like a bird, or FREEZE.

GGallop – Move around like a horse. Galloping is like skipping but the same leg always goes first.

HHop – Balance on one leg and then move around without putting the other leg down. Can you hop on the other leg too? You could also try Hopscotch – alternate between a hop and a jump.

IInvent an action – Think of a new action using one part of your body or all of it! If someone else is joining in, show them your action and also Imitate theirs.

JJump – Keep your feet together and see how high you can jump. How about how far you can jump? You could also Jog on the spot (Jogging is gentle running), or do some Jumping Jacks.

KKick – Stand still and pretend you are kicking a ball. Kick gently, kick hard or see how high you can kick. Can you kick as high with the other leg?

LLeap – A leap is different to a jump because you take off from one leg. If you’ve got space, try starting with a short run. You could also try a Log Roll – lie down with your arms above your head and roll over sideways.

MMarch – Swing your arms and stamp your feet. You can March on the spot or move around the room.

NNod your head (gently). You could also do Nothing – be as still as possible.

OOpposite Jacks – Put one arm straight out in front of you. Step forward with the Opposite leg. Stretch your other arm out behind you. Then jump up and swap everything. Keep going! These are like Jumping Jacks but your arms and legs move in Opposite directions.

PPress-up – Lie on your front, put your hands flat on the floor by your shoulders, then try to push your body off the floor. You can curl your toes under so you’re balancing on your hands and toes. You could also do a Pike Stretch – sit with your legs out in front of you and reach forward towards your toes (keep your legs straight) How far can you reach?

QQuarter Jump Turn – Stand still and look to the side. Now do a jump and turn in mid-air so you land facing the way you were looking. If you do four you should end up facing the way you started. Can you do a Half Jump Turn? What about a Full Turn?

RRun – Run on the spot or around the room, be careful not to bump into anything! You could also Roll, Race a friend or use this letter to Relax!

SSkip – To skip you need to step forward, then hop, then change legs and keep going. You could also Sprint (run as fast as you can on the spot) or do a Star Jump.

TTuck Jump – Jump up and bring your knees up in front of you. Straighten out before you land. You could try putting your hands out in front of you and bringing your knees up to touch your hands.

UUncurl – First roll yourself into a tight ball, then uncurl until you’re fully stretched out. How small can you make yourself? When you’re fully stretched out, how long can you make yourself? How slowly can you Uncurl?

VV-Sit – Sit on the floor with your legs out straight in front of you. Lift your legs off the floor while leaning back to stay in balance. Try to keep your back straight. It might help to hold your legs with your hands!

WWalk – Try to Walk on your toes. How about Walking backwards? Or sideways? Can you walk by putting your feet right in front of each other so they touch? You could also Wiggle your fingers or toes.

XX-Walk – Stretch your arms and legs as far apart as possible. Now see if you can walk forwards, still in the shape of an X.

YY-Balance – Stand on one leg and hold your other foot with your hand. Lift it up to the side as high as you can. Stretch your other arm up and sideways so you look like the letter Y.

ZZigzag – move across the room by going diagonally one way, then the other. Keep changing direction whilst moving forwards.  You could also Zoom around the room like a rocket!

How many other movements can you come up with for the Active Alphabet?

If you’re looking for another activity that involves movements and balances, try the Active Dice Game.