Happy, Sad and Scared Statues

Children dance to music and, when it stops, turn into a statue of the feeling the teacher calls. It builds postural control and expressing feelings with the whole body.

How to play

1. The teacher shows a statue for each feeling: happy with arms up, sad all curled, angry with fists, scared hiding the face and calm with hands on tummy (2 min).
2. Dance freely; when the music stops, the teacher calls a feeling and everyone becomes that statue (2 min).
3. The teacher strolls past like a museum visitor and describes what they see: “What an angry statue, with clenched teeth!” (2 min).
4. Now the statues come alive: when the music starts again, we move with our statue's feeling (2 min).
5. Partner statues: two friends make the same feeling together, like happy and hugging, or scared one behind the other (2 min).
6. Last statue: the calm one, holding still while the music fades out (2 min).

Rules

• When the music stops, I freeze like a statue.
• Nobody is out: every statue counts.
• I dance in my space without pushing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Hearing loss: also flick the lights or raise a hand to mark when the music stops.
• Visual impairment: describe the statue in words and gently guide the pose by touch.
• Limited mobility: make the statue with whatever body parts can move and the face.

Learning goals

• Hold a still pose for a few seconds.
• Express feelings through poses.
• Dance freely while respecting space.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Music

Teacher tip

The “museum” moment is gold: describe out loud what you see and they'll pick up body language for feelings. Don't put anyone out for moving; a “let's see that statue!” is enough.

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