ADDITIONAL MOVEMENT EXERCISES​

​

Statues

Objective: To enhance body control and creativity.

How to Play:

One person is the "Museum Curator" and the rest are "Statues."

The Statues spread out and strike a pose. When the Curator’s back is turned, the Statues move around.

When the Curator turns back, the Statues must freeze in place.

If a Statue is caught moving, they become the new Curator.

Benefits: Develops quick thinking, creativity, and control over body movements.

 

Animal Walks

Objective: To explore different ways of moving and embodying characters.

How to Play:

The instructor calls out various animals, and the kids must move like that animal.

Examples include a slithering snake, hopping frog, or prowling tiger.

Encourage them to think about how each animal's body moves and how it affects their speed and posture.

Benefits: Enhances physical creativity and understanding of movement.

 

Mirror Game

Objective: To improve observation and mimicry skills.

How to Play:

Pair up the kids. One is the "Leader" and the other is the "Mirror."

The Leader makes slow, deliberate movements, and the Mirror must mimic them exactly.

Switch roles after a few minutes.

Benefits: Develops focus, coordination, and the ability to observe and replicate movements.

 

Emotion Walks

Objective: To explore how emotions affect movement.

How to Play:

Call out different emotions (e.g., happy, sad, angry, scared).

Kids walk around the space embodying the emotion called out, thinking about how that emotion affects their speed, posture, and gestures.

Benefits: Helps kids understand how emotions influence body language and movement.

 

Emotion Statues

Objective: To explore how emotions affect physical expression.

How to Play:

Call out different emotions (e.g., excitement, sadness, anger).

The kids must freeze in a statue that represents that emotion.

Hold the pose for a few seconds before calling out a new emotion.

Benefits: Helps kids understand and express emotions through body language and facial expressions.

 

Traffic Lights

Objective: To practice listening and reacting quickly.

How to Play:

The instructor calls out commands: "Red Light" (stop), "Yellow Light" (walk slowly), and "Green Light" (run).

Add variations like "Purple Light" (jump), "Blue Light" (spin), and "Orange Light" (tiptoe).

Benefits: Enhances listening skills, quick reaction times, and ability to follow instructions.

 

Character Relay

Objective: To combine physical activity with character exploration.

How to Play:

Divide the kids into two teams.

Set up a simple relay course.

Each child must complete the course while moving like a specific character (e.g., a pirate, a ballerina, a robot).

The first team to have all members complete the course wins.

Benefits: Encourages teamwork, creative movement, and character embodiment.

 

Shape Shifters

Objective: To enhance creativity and spatial awareness.

How to Play:

Call out different shapes (e.g., circle, square, triangle).

Kids must use their bodies to form the shapes, either alone or in small groups.

For added challenge, call out objects (e.g., a car, a tree) for them to create.

Benefits: Develops spatial awareness, creativity, and cooperation.

 

Story Movement

Objective: To combine storytelling with physical expression.

How to Play:

The instructor tells a simple story and the kids act it out using movements.

For example, if the story involves climbing a mountain, swimming in a lake, or running from a dragon, the kids perform these actions.

Benefits: Enhances imagination, listening skills, and the ability to translate words into physical actions.

 

Freeze and Melt

Objective: To practice quick transitions and control over movements.

How to Play:

Play some music and let the kids dance or move around.

When the music stops, they must "freeze" in whatever position they are in.

When the music starts again, they "melt" slowly to the ground before resuming their movement.

Benefits: Develops listening skills, control over movement, and the ability to quickly switch between actions.

 

Follow the Sound

Objective: To improve listening skills and movement coordination.

How to Play:

One child makes a repetitive sound (e.g., clapping, tapping feet).

The others follow the sound and move in a way that matches it (e.g., if the sound is slow and heavy, they move slowly and heavily).

Rotate the role of the sound maker.

Benefits: Enhances listening skills, coordination, and the ability to translate auditory cues into physical actions.

 

Imaginary Ball

Objective: To foster imagination and physical coordination.

How to Play:

Pretend to pass an imaginary ball around the group.

Encourage kids to change the ball's size, weight, and texture (e.g., a heavy bowling ball, a tiny marble, a squishy foam ball).

The kids must react to the ball accordingly, using their bodies to show the characteristics of the ball.

Benefits: Stimulates imagination, physical coordination, and the ability to visualize and react to imaginary objects.