Beginning to Use the Voice: Creating Sounds and Motions
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Phase:
Before/Engage
Activity:
Strategy #1
Students stand in a circle.
You will model this exercise for your students. "Send" a sound and a motion around the circle by turning to the person to your right and generating a sound and a motion. Example: Vocally you say "ohhhh-noooo"; Physically you raise your hands to protect your face.
Each student then continues to pass this sound and motion around the circle by turning to their right and making the same sound and motion.
Do this until the sound/motion gets back to you.
At this point, you may want to demonstrate another sound/motion. Example: Vocally you say "hoot-hoot"; Physically you flap your arms up and down like a bird.
Each student then continues to pass this sound and motion around the circle by turning to their right and making the same sound and motion.
Do this until the sound/motion gets back to you.
Strategy #2
Have the next person in the circle (the student to your right) create a new sound a motion to send around the circle.
Continue until each student has had the opportunity to pass their sound and motion.
Encourage students to keep the sound and motion going.
Encourage students to mimic exactly what they see and hear and to keep the energy and pacing consistent.
Strategy #3
Explain to the students that now they are going to create a motion to go with their name. (Their name takes the place of the sound.) Demonstrate this for them using your own name. For example, you may say, "Ms. Smith" and wave both of your hands. Have the students say your name and do your motion.
Next, have the student to your right say their name with a motion.
Tell the class that any school appropriate motion will do. Do not think of this as a dance. Think of it as gestures. They might wave, spin, kick, give a thumbs up, shrug, flip their hair, stomp one foot, etc. Be prepared to give suggestions and to support any simple gesture they may make.
Ask the class to repeat that student's name and motion.
Then you restart the game by beginning with your name/motion and adding to the next student's name/motion.
By the end of this exercise you will start with your name/motion and then go through every student's name/motion.
This becomes a memory game as well as an opportunity for students to experience movement and sound simultaneously.
Assessment Strategies:
Assess your students based on your observations of their participation.
Students demonstrate the ability to create a sound and motion at the same time.
Students demonstrate the ability to repeat a sound and motion that is shown to them.
Students maintain a general pace as they repeated sounds and motions around the circle.
Students create a motion/gesture to go with their name.
Advanced Preparation:
In preparation for this activity, you will want to determine what sound and motion you will first pass around the circle. You will also want to create a motion/gesture to go with your name. Be prepared to coach students. Some may need ideas for gestures. If a student does something as simple as a shrug you can use that! This should be a non-threatening exercise.
Variation Tips (optional):
This exercise is suitable for the Proficient level standards.