I Dance a Question, You Dance an Answer
In pairs, one child dances for a moment while the other watches still, and then the other "answers" with their own dance, like a conversation without words. It works on creating movement, waiting your turn and listening with your eyes.
How to play
- The teacher and a child demonstrate: the teacher dances for four drumbeats and freezes; the child answers by dancing for another four (2 min).
- The whole group answers the teacher: the teacher dances a short question and everyone answers at once in their own way (2 min).
- In pairs, face to face: with the teacher's drum marking turns, one asks by dancing and the other answers (3 min).
- Feeling conversations: a happy question gets a happy answer; an angry question gets a calming answer (3 min).
- A few volunteer pairs show their dance conversation to the group, and everyone claps (2 min).
Rules
- When my partner dances, I watch and stay still.
- I wait my turn to answer.
- My answer is mine: I don't have to copy.
- I dance near my partner without touching.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use only teacher questions with the whole group answering at once, in very short turns.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, work in pairs with the drum marking turns.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add feeling conversations and answers that borrow from the question (if you ask with a jump, I answer with a different jump).
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child asks and answers with arms, hands and head; the partner can dance seated facing them.
- Hearing impairment: also mark turns with a tap on the shoulder or the teacher's raised hand.
- Autism: use a card with an eye ("I watch") and feet ("I dance") so the child knows what each turn is.
Learning goals
- Create short original movements.
- Respect a partner's dance turn.
- Respond with the body to someone else's idea.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
Turns need to be very short (four drumbeats) or the waiting child loses focus. The hard part is staying still and watching, so make a big deal of "listening with your eyes."
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