Funny Faces in the Mirror
With a hand mirror, each child explores the parts of their face and what they can do: wink, puff cheeks, raise eyebrows, stick out the tongue. Then they show feelings with face and body. Kids build awareness of the face and expressive movement.
How to play
- Sitting in a circle, each child with a mirror. Cue: "Look at yourself and find your eyes, nose, mouth and ears." The teacher names them and everyone touches (2 min).
- Face moves one by one, copying the teacher: open and close eyes, raise eyebrows, puff cheeks, stick out the tongue, wiggle the nose like a bunny (3 min).
- Feeling faces: "Happy face!", "Grumpy face!", "Surprised face!", "Scared face!" Kids check the mirror, then show a friend (3 min).
- Mirrors go in the middle. Standing and spread out, the teacher calls a feeling and everyone walks with that face and body (3 min).
- Finish: "sleepy face"; kids put mirrors back in the basket one at a time (1 min).
Rules
- Hold the mirror with both hands and never walk around with it.
- If it falls, tell the teacher and don't touch it.
- We laugh with each other, never at each other.
- Use only your own mirror.
Variations
Easier
Only eyes, mouth and nose, and two feelings (happy and sad).
Standard
Varied face moves and four feelings while walking.
Harder
In pairs, one makes a face and the other guesses the feeling and copies it with the whole body.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: full participation from the wheelchair; walking becomes arm gestures.
- Autism: use picture cards of feelings and don't require looking at classmates.
- Different skill levels: kids who can't do a move (winking) try another; skilled kids combine face and hand gestures.
Learning goals
- Identify the parts of their own face.
- Control small facial movements.
- Express basic feelings with face and body.
Equipment for a class of 25
- shatterproof hand mirrors: 20
Teacher tip
Use shatterproof or polished steel mirrors. Make big silly faces yourself: when the teacher clowns around, even shy kids join in.
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