The Candle That Slowly Goes Out

Children are lit candles whose flames dance gently and then, with the teacher's breath, slowly melt until they're lying down like soft wax. It works on gradual relaxation and controlling the breath.

How to play

1. Standing, palms together over our heads: we're freshly lit candles, standing tall (1 min).
2. The flame dances in a soft breeze: we sway our hands and body slowly without moving our feet (1 min).
3. The teacher blows softly and the candle melts: we sink very slowly, first the arms, then the head, then the knees (1 min).
4. Lying down, we're soft wax; we breathe slowly, feeling our tummy rise and fall (1 min).
5. Everyone blows out their pretend candle very slowly, so the flame takes a long time to go out, and we sit up (1 min).

Rules

• The candle sways gently without leaving its spot.
• I melt slowly; I don't flop down.
• I blow soft and long.
• The wax is still and quiet.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: done seated, melting by letting the arms and head drop forward.
• Hearing loss: the teacher's blowing is shown with exaggerated lips and a slowly lowering hand.
• Autism: if lying down is uncomfortable, they stay seated as wax or lie down with a cushion.

Learning goals

• Relax the body little by little.
• Control how hard and how long they blow.
• Calm down after activity.

Teacher tip

Dim the lights if you can and talk more and more softly. Kids often melt all at once; count slowly “one... two... three” as you sink together.

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