Ice Cubes in the Freezer
Children are flowing water; when the freezer door opens they turn into stiff ice cubes in poses with few supports, and when the sun comes out they melt slowly. It warms up the body and alternates tension and stillness with relaxing.
How to play
- We're water: we move loose and floppy around the room while the drum plays (1 min).
- "The freezer is open!": everyone freezes standing, hard as an ice cube (1 min).
- Shaped ice cubes: the teacher calls "one-foot cube," "kneeling cube," "cube with one hand on the floor," and they hold still (2 min).
- The sun comes out: the cubes melt very slowly until they're a puddle on the floor (1 min).
- We do it one more time and end as calm puddles (1 min).
Rules
- As an ice cube, my body is hard and still.
- I melt slowly, without flopping down.
- Water flows without bumping.
- I listen to the teacher to know my cube's shape.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, all cubes are standing on both feet or kneeling.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add the one-foot cube and the cube with one hand on the floor.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, each child invents a cube shape with only two supports and holds it to five.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the cube is shaped with the arms and trunk, and melts by leaning over the chair.
- Hearing impairment: the freezer opens when the teacher holds up a snowflake sign; the sun is a yellow sign.
- Less skilled children: they may lean on the wall during the one-foot shape.
Learning goals
- Hold still poses with different supports.
- Contrast muscle tension and relaxation.
- Get moving with free travel around the room.
Equipment for a class of 25
- hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
Play up the cold with your voice ("brrr") so they stiffen their bodies. When melting, make sure they don't drop all at once: "Like an ice pop in the sun, little by little."
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