Machine Game

Don’t worry about trying to represent a "real" machine. The point of the activity is to give kids the feeling of mechanical (vs. organic) motion and group interaction sustained by rhythm and movement.

Objectives

Children ages 4-5 years can demonstrate meaning of word by pantomime Lang. IIIB
and all children participating can imitate role play Cog. IV A
and use non-verbal interaction with other children in play Cog. IV A

 
 
 

Materials

Large area; a record of electronic music or other music with repetitive, punctuated rhythms help to inspire mechanical movements.

Procedures

1. Explain to the children that they are going to make a machine using their bodies. The teacher demonstrates a mechanical motion and sound and asks a child to imitate him.

2. Insert another child into this machine sculpture, providing him with a new motion and sound so the kids get an idea of the variety of movements and sounds.

3. Ask if someone else would like to be part of the machine. The teacher should structure the first machine, helping the children place themselves in the machine and choose sounds and movements. When tried in a movement session of mine, the kids decided to be a fire engine machine and had concrete images in mind. One child was the siren, another wheel, another hose, etc. All were eager to participate.

4. The children continue to perform their sounds and movements until the machine is complete. Ending the machine can happen by: a) the teacher simply calling these children back to the group; b) the machine self-destructing: exploding and blowing itself into oblivion; c) gradually grinding to a slow halt; d) a child playing the role of an "on/off" switch.