Masks That Tell Us How to Move
The teacher holds Carnival mask picture cards in front of their face, and each mask calls for a different way to move: lion, robot, mouse or giant. It warms up the body and practices reacting quickly to a visual cue.
How to play
- Show the masks one at a time and decide together how each one moves (1 min).
- Lion mask: on all fours, strong steps and a friendly roar (1 min).
- Robot mask: stiff arms and legs, short steps and sharp turns (1 min).
- Mouse mask: on tiptoe, super fast and silent (1 min).
- Giant mask: huge steps, arms up high and very slow (1 min).
- Mix-up: the teacher switches masks faster and faster, and at the end everyone makes up a mask with their hands (2 min).
Rules
- Watch the teacher to see which mask is up.
- Every animal and character moves in its own space.
- No mask means freeze.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use just two or three masks and switch slowly.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, use all four masks and switch at the group’s pace.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the teacher shows two masks at once and children mix both moves, like a giant mouse.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: each mask has a version using arms, trunk and face from the chair.
- Visual impairment: the teacher names each mask aloud and gives it its own sound.
- Autism: show the cards before starting and keep them visible in the same order.
Learning goals
- Warm up with changes of speed and level.
- React to visual cues.
- Act out characters with the body.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Mask picture cards: 4
Teacher tip
Draw the masks large and simple on card stock, each with a different background color. If a child is uneasy about masks, let them hold the cards and be in charge for a round.
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