Working it Out -
Body Hello
This exercise is a beginning step in helping students become aware of nonverbal communications and can be used as an icebreaker for a new group.
Materials: A tape player and music tape (preferred) or a bell.
Duration: 10 minutes
Procedure: Musical interludes are extremely valuable in helping students focus and prepare internally to act.
Ask students to walk in time to the music, passing by and between each other. When the music stops, ask them to find a partner and signal HELLO with a particular part of their bodies. Example: the teacher says, "Say HELLO with your hands." Encourage creativity, but no talking.
The music resumes and the children walk around the room. When the music stops, they find new partners and say hello again according to the teacher's instructions. Repeat the sequence about 10 times.
Play the music between each segment. Ask the children to signal someone new each time. Remember to announce, "This is the last HELLO" before you cue it.
Process: Did we say hello differently? What new ways did you use? How did it feel to act out hello without words?
Sample body parts: Head, ears, thumbs, elbows, shoulders, chin, knees, one eyebrow, legs, smile, eyelashes, nose, backsides.
