Let's Build a Robot Together

In groups of four, children build a robot out of their bodies: one is the legs, one the trunk, others the arms and antennas. Once it's built, the robot powers on and moves together to music. They practice body expression, cooperation and awareness of body position.

How to play

1. The teacher shapes a standing robot with their body and counts its parts: legs, trunk, arms and antennas (1 min).
2. Make groups of four and each child picks a part with the teacher's help (2 min).
3. Build the robot: stand close together, each in their part's pose, and freeze (2 min).
4. Power on: with the music, all the parts move at once with robot moves (3 min).
5. The robot takes a walk: move a few steps together across the room without coming apart (2 min).
6. Visit the other groups' robots and give each one a round of applause (2 min).

Rules

• Everyone has a part and every part matters.
• Parts touch gently, no pushing.
• The robot moves when the music plays.
• We watch and clap for the other robots.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: be the robot's trunk or head from the wheelchair with the other parts arranged around.
• Autism: choose a low-contact part (the antennas) and stand a little apart from the group.
• Hearing loss: the robot powers on when the teacher flicks the room lights.

Learning goals

• Represent an object with the body as a group.
• Coordinate poses and movements with classmates.
• Appreciate the other groups' ideas.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Music

Teacher tip

Build the first robot yourself with two or three volunteers so they see how the parts fit together. Help hand out parts without arguments: if two kids want antennas, they can both be antennas.

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