I'm a Feather in the Wind

The children become feathers that float, fly in a big wind, and drift down slowly, following the hand drum. It builds body expression and matching movement to the strength of a sound.

How to play

1. The teacher drops a feather from up high and everyone watches it dance to the floor (1 min).
2. We are feathers: with a soft drum we float on tiptoe moving our arms (1 min).
3. With a loud drum the big wind comes: we run and spin all over the space (2 min).
4. We switch between soft breeze and big wind several times (2 min).
5. Silence: the wind stops and the feathers drift down slowly until they lie on the floor (1 min).

Rules

• Soft drum, I move softly.
• Loud drum, I run without bumping.
• Silence, I float down slowly like a feather.
• Feathers don't push each other.

Variations

Adaptations

• Motor-impaired: is a feather with arms and upper body, lowering the arms slowly to fall.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher pairs the drum with big wind gestures.
• Autism: show a card before switching to big wind and keep a quiet corner available.

Learning goals

• Match movement to the strength of a sound.
• Control a slow descent of the body.
• Show qualities like light and fast with the body.

Equipment for a class of 25

• plumas: 3
• pandero: 1

Teacher tip

Start by dropping a real feather: it is the best model. Many kids flop down at once; ask them to come down "as slowly as the feather."

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