Emotion Walk: Volume 1 to 5
Students walk around the space expressing a feeling with their whole body while the teacher turns its intensity up or down from 1 to 5, like a radio volume knob. It helps students recognize feelings, scale them and notice how posture, pace and gaze change.
How to play
- Everyone walks freely around the space to soft music (2 min), filling the gaps and changing direction on a clap.
- Call a feeling (happy) and a number from 1 to 5. At 1 it barely shows: normal steps and a small smile; at 5 it is huge: jumps, arms up, quick steps.
- Work through each feeling turning the volume up and down (3 min per block): happy, sad, angry and scared. Between feelings, take 10 seconds of neutral walking to "reset."
- Greetings (3 min): on "Say hi!", each student greets the nearest classmate with the current feeling and number, without words, and keeps walking.
- Guess the number (3 min): half the class walks with a feeling and a secret number; the other half watches and guesses the number. Then switch.
- Circle reflection (2 min): Which body part changed most as the volume went up? Which feeling was hardest?
Rules
- Walk without touching anyone and look where you are going.
- Even at volume 5, stay in control: angry never hits or pushes.
- No talking: show the feeling with your body and face.
Variations
Easier
Use only three levels (a little, medium, a lot) and two basic feelings.
Standard
Four feelings at volume 1 to 5 with partner greetings.
Harder
Shift gradually from one feeling to another (from happy 5 to sad 5 in five steps) without going back to neutral.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: scale the feeling with trunk, arms, head and wheelchair speed.
- Hearing impairment: show the number with fingers and the feeling with a picture card.
- Autism: support each feeling with a picture and do not insist on eye contact during greetings.
Learning goals
- Recognize and name basic feelings through the body.
- Scale the intensity of body expression.
- Read others' body language and connect it to feelings.
Equipment for a class of 25
- music: 1
Teacher tip
Model the 1 and the 5 of each feeling before asking for it, so everything does not turn into an over-the-top 5. Always end on a pleasant feeling so students leave in a good mood.
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