Look no further! Here’s a quick, fun and modifiable holiday movement activity that comes in both “desktop” and “mobile” versions.
As with all of my lesson plans, I guarantee they can be used for ANY audience, ANY time, in ANY space, as long as:
- Participants are aware they are in a learning or “structured” environment
- Participants are emotionally and cognitively capable of following directions
- The facilitator has experience working with the population and can make in-the-moment modifications as necessary.
So without further ado:
Seasonal Scenes and Sounds Movement Activity
Energize your group and get them interacting using holiday scenes and sounds as inspiration!
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
What sounds remind me of the winter holidays season?
What activities do I enjoy with friends and family during the winter holidays season?
What do these scenes and sounds have in common with others in this class/experience?
PREP TIME:
ACTIVITY TIME:
none-5 minutes
10-15 minutes
MATERIALS:
none; or holiday music playlist
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Divide the group into two. One group creates a movement scene, and the other creates sounds.
2. Select a movement and music “conductor” from each group.
3. Combine the sounds and movements to create randomized choreography sketches!
No, really, that’s it. Now, see explicit instructions with facilitator language below:
1. Say aloud to group:
We are going to take 10 minutes and set a holiday scene.
This performance will tell us more about the things that are important to us during this season.
What are some sounds that remind you of the winter holiday season? What are some activities that you look forward to each season?
In groups of 2-3, you have 3 minutes to come up with a repeating sound or series of moves. This half of the group, create a sound. The other half, create movement. Remember, to create a repeating sound or move: movement or sound over and over in a pattern that the audience can follow.
We should be able to tell what you’re doing, so make the sound or movement clear. Everyone in the group should be involved in some way.
And….GO!
2. Say to conductors:
Go to your groups and familiarize yourself with the different sounds or moves. Your job is to put them together in a way that “makes sense” when it’s time for the group performance.
You may NOT speak to your groups at all during this process – either during prep, or when we put it together! You may only speak to the other conductor (if you have time).
Make sure you give the group a clear signal that the performance is complete.
3. Say aloud to group:
OK, time’s up! Sounds and sights, stay in your small groups. Conductors, please assume your positions.
Groups, watch your conductors for the signals of when to start, stop or continue.
No, I don’t know what signals they’re going to give you. I said watch them.
I will record the madness, and then we will watch and see how what we’ve done represents how we feel about the winter holidays.
Conductors, ready? Groups ready?
And five – six – seven – eight – GO!
Desktop Version:
Participants can stay in one place, but they should face each other when performing.
Coach group to focus on gestures that can be done in stationary positions (like putting ornaments on a tree), demonstrating scenes with gestures (like miming ice skating by swirling fingers slowly on an open palm) or using modified sign language.
Mobile Version:
Specify that the “sights” group must create a movement that travels from one location to another.
If possible, perform the sights in sounds in the round!
Will this work for your group?
Please let me know if you decide to try it. Were my instructions too sparse? How would you/ did you modify? How can this be modified to other disciplines? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
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