The Flashlight Finds Who Came Today

With the lights dimmed, children curl up around the room while the teacher takes attendance by shining a flashlight on each one; whoever gets the light stands up, says “I'm here!” and shows with their body how they feel today. It builds attention, body stillness and a sense of being seen and welcomed.

How to play

1. Half-close the blinds; each child finds a spot and curls up like a sleeping rock (1 min).
2. Explain: “When the light finds you and you hear your name, wake up and say I'm here!” (1 min).
3. Shine the light on one child at a time and say their name; the child stands and shows how they feel today: happy, sleepy, full of energy (2 min).
4. Everyone else copies that pose for a moment, then curls back up (2 min).
5. When everyone is awake, turn the lights up and stretch together like the sun is rising (1 min).

Rules

• Stay curled up until you hear your name.
• The light never goes in anyone's eyes.
• We copy our friend without laughing at them.
• If someone is absent, we blow them a kiss.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visual impairment: keep the room bright; add a shoulder tap and say the name up close.
• Autism or fear of the dark: keep the lights on, or let the child sit next to the teacher and hold the flashlight together.
• Limited mobility: a child who can't curl up covers their face with their hands and “wakes up” by opening their arms.

Learning goals

• Keep the body still while waiting for a turn.
• Show with a pose how they feel arriving.
• Feel part of the group during attendance.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Flashlight: 1

Teacher tip

If anyone is scared of the dark, skip dimming the lights; the flashlight still works as a signal. Call the wiggliest kids first so they don't have to wait too long.

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