Submitted by Connie Herbon, Iowa

Idea posted June 3, 2004

These directions are for a riser performance of Discovery (from Music K-8, Vol. 14, No. 1), meant to add visual interest but mainly to help make the words "do-able" for all kindergarten through third grade classes. Some of the movements are just gestures, some are signed English, and some are ASL. In addition, some of the movements are expanded signs for visual interest. I really try to be sure the students know what is a "sign" and what is just a "gesture." I don't usually mix signs and gestures, but it was necessary this time to make the song interesting and accessible to my youngest classes.


Open your eyes - flat "O" hands at sides of eyes exploding into wide jazz hands (WJH). These wide jazz hands are critical throughout the piece and must be uniform to look good. I do everything backwards so the students can mirror me. This works for us. Directions below were written according to the order of the students' movement:

Look - right "V" hand pointed up and out toward the future plus eyes looking to where fingers are pointing

See - bring right "V" toward eyes
Be - take "B" hand straight out from mouth (This is the word "be" and done to help remember the word!)

Open your heart - flat "O" hands from heart into WJH

Feel - right middle finger brush chest 2X, then repeat with left ("feel" sign repeated for effect)

Open your mind - flat "O" hands from temples into WJH
Find discovery - (see ASL site) pretend to pick something up with right pointer and thumb, brushing it past stationary right-facing left palm. We keep the pointer thumb ("F" hand) going and explode it into a WJH
Look around - right hand out, palm up
Discover - left hand out, palm up
Things - two small bounces out with each hand
See - bring both "V" hands toward eyes
Come - gesture "come" with right pointer, then left
Learn - pick knowledge from left palm (up) with right hand and move the knowledge to brain
Be - same as above
Look around, discover - same as above
Things - same as above
Do - both "claw hand," palm down, move back and forth a couple times in front of body
Adventure - left hand out, palm down, circle pointer finger under and out (see ASL site for visual)
Dream - right forefinger touches forehead then pulls away in a wiggling fashion as if indicating an illusive dream (see ASL site)
Repeat above as needed. No movement on solo parts.
Discovery (we did parts one and two only) included all kindergarten, first, and second grades repeating the opening "Discovery" sign/gesture opening into WJH five times, stretching the hand and voice out to match me. Third grade followed on part two with voices and hands. On the last sung unison "Discovery," we all did a "dig" with both hands, palm up, in front of body about waist high on last syllable of the word. We raise it (staying with me!) until I/we "pull down" at quarter rest in last measure. Say in heads "one, two" for the two rests and explode with either pointer up/out/whatever in random FREEZE! as we shout the last "Discovery!" together.
© Plank Road Publishing, Inc. - Used by permission.