Mood Scarves

Each child dances with a scarf and moves it to match the feeling of the color the teacher holds up. It builds arm coordination and expressing feelings through an object.

How to play

1. Each child takes a scarf and lets it float freely to the music (1 min).
2. Yellow scarf up: happy. The scarf flies high and we spin around (1 min).
3. Blue scarf: sad. The scarf falls slowly and we drag it along the floor (1 min).
4. Red scarf: angry. We snap the scarf hard toward the floor like a whip (1 min).
5. Purple scarf: scared, we hide behind the scarf; green scarf: calm, we wave it like a gentle wave (1 min).
6. The teacher switches colors every few seconds and we finish covered by the green scarf, perfectly still (1 min).

Rules

• My scarf moves in my own space, without touching anyone.
• I watch which color the teacher holds up.
• When the music stops, my scarf stops.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visual impairment: the teacher calls out the feeling name as well as holding up the color.
• Limited mobility: tie the scarf to the wrist so nobody has to pick it up off the floor.
• Less dexterity: use large, light scarves that float longer.

Learning goals

• Coordinate big arm movements.
• Match colors to feelings.
• Express feelings with an object.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Colored scarves: 25
• Music

Teacher tip

If you don't have scarves in all five colors, hold up colored cards and let each child dance with whatever scarf they have. Hand out the scarves already separated to save time.

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