Puppets With a Snipped String

Children are puppets dancing to the drum; when the puppeteer "snips" a string, that body part hangs loose and they have to keep their balance like that. It warms up the body and works on posture with one support or limb out of place.

How to play

1. The teacher plays puppeteer, pulling imaginary strings while a volunteer raises an arm, a knee, their head (1 min).
2. While the drum plays, all the puppets dance loosely around the room (2 min).
3. The drum stops and the puppeteer snips a string: "The leg string is cut!" The leg stays bent in the air and the rest of the body freezes (2 min).
4. Two strings are snipped at once, for example a leg and an arm, and we hold while counting to three (1 min).
5. The puppeteer packs the puppets away in the box: they sit down all floppy on the floor (1 min).

Rules

• I dance only when the drum plays.
• The part with the snipped string doesn't move.
• If I lose my balance, I put my foot down and try again.
• I dance in my space without pushing other puppets.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: snip only arm, hand, and head strings, from the chair.
• Visual impairment: the puppeteer gently touches the body part whose string is snipped.
• Autistic children: tell them which string will be snipped before the drum stops.

Learning goals

• Keep balance with a leg or arm in an unusual position.
• Shift from free movement to stillness.
• Name body parts.

Equipment for a class of 25

• hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Name the body parts clearly and point to them on yourself. Keep the drum short between snips; long stretches of dancing scatter the group.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Elementary