Paint Pots Pop Open

Children are closed paint pots, crouched and still. When the teacher raises a colored scarf, the pot pops open and the paint comes out moving like that color. They warm up and express different moods and ways of moving.

How to play

1. The teacher shows the scarves and how each color moves: red runs fast, blue flows in gentle waves, yellow jumps happily (1 min).
2. Everyone crouches down into a ball: we're paint pots with the lid on tight (1 min).
3. The teacher raises a scarf and hits the drum once: the pots pop open and the paint moves around the space like that color (2 min).
4. On two drum beats, we close back up into pots. The teacher keeps changing colors and adds green, which tiptoes (1 min).
5. Last pot: the teacher raises all the scarves at once, each child picks a favorite color to move like, and we slowly close our lids (1 min).

Rules

• The pot stays closed until the drum sounds.
• Each color has its own way of moving.
• Two beats means back into your pot.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the pot closes by curling in the arms and head and opens by spreading them with the color's movement.
• Autism: post a card showing the color and a drawing of its movement, and give notice before each beat.
• Hearing loss: a scarf held high means open, a scarf hidden behind the back means close.

Learning goals

• Go from stillness to movement on a signal.
• Move with different speeds and energy levels.
• Connect colors with moods and ways of moving.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Colored scarves: 4
• Hand drum

Teacher tip

Use large scarves and hold them where everyone can see. Staying closed is hard at first, so count "three, two, one" quietly before the beat to help them wait.

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