• Dim the lights
  • Invite students to lie on their backs with eyes closed if that is available and comfortable for them (suggest alternatives like sitting in a chair or sitting on the floor, keeping their eyes soft, etc.)
  • Use a variety of instrumental music
  • Instruct them to listen for a body part and an adjective (What is an adjective - a word used to describe something) and then move that body part in the way in which the adjective describes

Note: Teachers may wish to substitute their own adjective or have students work in groups to come up with other adjectives).

Lying Down, Eyes Closed

Body Part

Suggested Adjective

Toes

Wiggle

Feet

Scrunch

Ankles

Roll

Legs

Spiral

Hips

Sway

Rib Cage

Isolate

Shoulders

Shrug

Arms

Twist

Wrists

Rotate

Head

Nod

  • Once you have given adjectives for each body part starting with the toes and working up to the head, students will be invited to slowly stand up and begin moving how they feel.
  • When students are standing, this is where their own Improvisation will take place. You can instruct students to open their eyes or keep their eyes closed depending on the space you have.
  • Students will need to be reminded to be careful so that they do not mistakenly hit a peer (if eyes are closed)
  • You can direct students during the standing improvisation (see chart below)

Note: Teacher may want to invite students to incorporate other movements into their improvisation (especially for students that this activity is particularly difficult for) or to provide a general theme to explore (e.g., circles, groundedness, etc.).

Standing, Eyes Closer or Open

  • Incorporate the Head
  • Incorporate the Wrists
  • Incorporate the Arms
  • Incorporate the Shoulders
  • Incorporate the Rib Cage
  • Incorporate the Hips
  • Incorporate the Legs
  • Incorporate Turns, Locomotor Movements, Jumps, Skips, etc.

Lying Down, Eyes Closed

Students will be instructed to slowly move their way back down to the floor and end how they began, lying down on their backs.  Teachers may wish to use adjectives for the movement to the ground. (Examples: melt, spiral, twist, recoil, etc.)