Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Cool Down Stretch Poster: Free Printable Chart for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Cool Down Stretch Poster is a free printable chart for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children meet six simple stretches, each with its own name, and use a table to record how to do each one. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to the child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet is a chart with a table to fill in. One column is for the name of the stretch and one is for how to do it. Children learn six stretches, read the steps and try each one gently with their own body. Then they put the name and the way to do it into the table in their own words.
- Stretch
- How to do it
How the sheet builds understanding
Name it
Each stretch has a name. Learning the name gives children a shared word to use when they talk about movement.
Read the steps
Children read how to do each stretch and turn words into movement. This is following instructions with the body.
Try it
Children copy the shape of each stretch slowly and gently. They notice which part of the body feels it.
Record it
The table helps children put what they did into short written steps they can read again later.
Why cool down after exercise?
After running, jumping or playing a sport, the body is still working hard. Breathing is quick and the heart is beating fast. A cool down gives the body a chance to settle gradually. Slow, gentle movement and calm breathing help children move from busy activity to a quieter state, ready for the next lesson or for home.
Gentle stretches are a common way to finish a PE lesson or sports session. They give children time to think about their bodies and which muscles they have just used. Naming each stretch and following clear steps also helps children learn the language of PE. It lets them explain movement to others and lead a short routine themselves.
Stretches should be slow and gentle. Children should never bounce, force a stretch or push into pain. If something hurts, they should stop and tell an adult. Keep a clear space around each child so nobody bumps into anyone else.
Quick facts about stretching and muscles
- Muscles pull on bones to make your body move. They can pull, but they cannot push.
- Your heart is a muscle, and it works harder when you exercise.
- After exercise your breathing and heartbeat slowly return to normal.
- A joint is a place where two bones meet. Knees and elbows are joints.
- Slow breathing is a good way to feel calm after a busy game.
Skills and curriculum link
- Stretching
- Body names
- Following steps
- Reading instructions
- Leading others
- Body awareness
Ideas to help children stretch well
- Go slowlyA good stretch is steady and calm. Moving slowly gives children time to notice how their body feels.
- Hold stillHold a stretch without bouncing. Counting quietly in your head helps children stay still.
- BreatheAsk children to breathe in and out as they stretch. Calm breathing helps the body settle after exercise.
- Both sidesWhere a stretch works one side of the body, children can try the other side too, so they get a fair turn on each.
Key words
- StretchA slow, gentle movement that lengthens a muscle.
- MusclePart of the body that tightens and relaxes to move your bones.
- JointA place where two bones meet, such as a knee or an elbow.
- Cool downSlow, gentle movement at the end of exercise.
- HoldKeep a stretch still without bouncing.
- BalanceStaying steady on your feet without wobbling.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Use the chart at the end of a PE lesson or sports session. Read the names aloud and let children read the steps.
- Lead the stretches and try each one slowly together. Remind children to stop if anything hurts.
- Ask children to fill in the table in their own words, then talk about which parts of the body they felt.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar routine builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Show each stretch yourself and let your child copy you, one step at a time. Say the name out loud as you move. Try only a few stretches at first and add more another day. Praise careful, steady movement.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to lead the class or family through three stretches. They should say each name, explain the steps in their own words and say which muscles they can feel. Then they can teach a friend a stretch.
Make it a game
Play slow music. When it stops, a child calls out the name of a stretch from the chart and everyone does it gently. Start the music again, then pick a new caller. Swap callers each round.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child bounces to try to reach further.
Try thisSlow right down. Tell them a stretch should be steady and still, and ask them to hold it while breathing out.
Watch forA child holds their breath while stretching.
Try thisAsk them to breathe in before the stretch and out as they settle into it. Count out loud together.
Watch forA child pushes until it hurts.
Try thisExplain that a stretch should feel gentle, never sore. Ask them to ease off a little until it feels comfortable.
Talk about it
- Which stretch was your favourite, and why?
- Which part of your body did you feel working?
- How does your body feel different now compared with before?
- Can you explain a stretch to me without showing me?
- Why do you think we move slowly after a game?
- Which stretch would you teach someone younger?
Take it off the page
Stretch leader
Take turns being the leader. The leader names a stretch and shows it, and everyone copies. Swap after each stretch.
Draw the stretch
Draw a stick figure doing a stretch. Label the body parts and write the steps underneath.
Calm breathing
Sit quietly and breathe in slowly for a count of three, then out for a count of three. Do it a few times and talk about how it feels.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Join in with the stretches yourself. Keep everything slow and gentle, and praise careful movement.
Teachers
Use it to end a PE lesson, as a calm plenary or as a table task for early finishers. Children can lead groups. It needs no preparation beyond printing.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider PE plan. It pairs well with outdoor play, sport and everyday talk about the body. Print it again for brothers and sisters.
Where this fits in PE
Before this sheet, children have been learning to move with control in games, running, jumping and gymnastics. They are also learning the names of body parts and how to follow instructions in PE.
After it, children can lead a short cool down after exercise, explain what each stretch does in their own words and notice how their bodies feel. This links to the Key Stage 2 PE strand on developing flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Cool Down Stretch Poster for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in with help, and older children can lead the stretches or teach them to others.
- What will children practise?
They learn the names and shapes of six simple stretches to use after exercise. They also practise reading steps, naming body parts and recording what they have learned in a table.
- Can children do the stretches without equipment?
Yes. The stretches need only a clear space and some comfortable room to move. You do not need mats or any equipment. A pencil is all that is needed for the table.
- What if a stretch feels too hard?
Show the stretch slowly and let your child copy you. Stretches should never hurt, so ease off if needed. Try a few at a time and come back another day.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it at the end of a PE lesson, as a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for the grown-up.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.