Slow Writing With My Nose

To calm music, children draw slow shapes in the air with unusual body parts: the nose, elbow, knee or foot. It builds slow, controlled movement and helps the class settle down.

How to play

1. Seated on the floor, the teacher draws a huge, very slow circle in the air with a finger, and everyone copies (1 min).
2. Now the pencil is the nose: draw a circle, a wave and a mountain very slowly, moving only the head (1 min).
3. The pencil is the elbow: paint a big sun and a snail (1 min).
4. Lying on our backs, the pencil is the foot: draw a ball and a little house (1 min).
5. Put the pencils away: keep the body still, close the eyes and take three breaths (1 min).

Rules

• Draw very, very slowly, like slow motion.
• Only the pencil part moves.
• No talking: we listen to the music.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: use whichever parts move comfortably as the pencil, seated in the wheelchair.
• Autism: show a card with the shape we're about to draw.
• Visual impairment: the teacher gently guides the part the first time and describes the shape in words.

Learning goals

• Move unusual body parts in a controlled way.
• Slow down movement to return to calm.
• Recognize the nose, elbow, knee and foot as parts that can move on their own.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Calm music

Teacher tip

The slower you go, the slower they go. Remind them not to strain the neck: keep nose circles small.

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