The Willow Sways Its Branches

With gentle music, children become willow trees, feet planted like roots and arms hanging like long branches that sway in the breeze, slower and slower until they're still. It works on slow movement, balance and relaxing the arms and upper body.

How to play

1. Stand with feet firmly planted like roots; the teacher shows a picture of a willow with its drooping branches (1 min).
2. Let your arms and head drop forward: we're long branches that almost touch the ground (1 min).
3. The breeze comes and the branches sway side to side, slowly, with the music (1 min).
4. Roll up little by little, one bump of the spine at a time, until we're standing tall with loose branches (1 min).
5. The breeze stops: the willow stands still and breathes quietly (1 min).

Rules

• The roots stay in place.
• Branches sway gently without bumping anyone.
• I move with the music.
• I roll up slowly; I don't pop up.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: seated in a chair, lean forward and let the arms hang.
• Visual impairment: stand next to the wall or touching a partner's hand as a reference.
• Hearing loss: the teacher shows the swaying rhythm with their own body, clearly in view.

Learning goals

• Move the upper body and arms freely.
• Keep balance with feet planted.
• Calm down with music.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Music

Teacher tip

Leave enough room between trees so branches don't collide. When rolling up, compare it to "stacking blocks from the bottom up."

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