When My Color Goes Up, I Move

Each child has a ribbon in one color; when the teacher raises a ribbon, only children with that color dance while the rest watch as statues. They practice recognizing their own color, sustained visual attention and moving expressively with the ribbon.

How to play

1. Each child picks a ribbon in one of four colors and we sit together with our color group (1 min).
2. The teacher raises a ribbon and that group gets up to dance around the space with their ribbons; the others watch from their spots (3 min).
3. The ribbon changes: the dancing group freezes where they are and the new color starts dancing (3 min).
4. The teacher raises two ribbons at once and both groups dance together, copying the teacher's ribbon moves: circles, waves or zigzags (2 min).
5. At the end the teacher raises every ribbon, we all dance and slowly lower our ribbons to the floor (1 min).

Rules

• Dance when your color goes up.
• If it's not your color, be a statue.
• Ribbons dance in the air, not in a friend's face.

Variations

Adaptations

• Child who uses a wheelchair: dances the ribbon with their arms from the chair.
• Child with low vision: the teacher's ribbon is very large and the teacher also says the color.
• Child who struggles to stay still: their group gets several turns in a row at first.

Learning goals

• Recognize their own color among others.
• Keep visual attention on a signal.
• Express themselves with body and ribbon.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cintas de colores: 25
• música

Teacher tip

Rhythmic gymnastics ribbons on sticks are ideal; otherwise, crepe paper strips stapled to a paper towel tube. Leave space between groups so ribbons don't tangle.

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