Submitted by Sandra Elder, Michigan
Idea posted November 15, 2002
Music:
Chopin's Minute Waltz
Materials:
large construction paper leaves (laminated if possible) cut in various leaf shapes, but each should have a match - enough for all students to have two off the same "tree"; opt. magic wand (Dollar Store); opt. book Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins; recording of Vivaldi's Autumn (first movement) for prep. activity
Activity:
(Have all the leaves cut out and laying in a big pile.)
- Prep activity: Read Robbins' book while listening to Autumn. Choose students to identify the leaves in the book by choosing the same leaf from your pile.
- Listen to Chopin while wiggling fingers and moving hands like leaves dancing and drifting through the air.
- Choose a leaf from the pile. Have one student come up and find a match, then carry both leaves back to his/her seat. Continue until all students have two matching leaves.
- Spread out around the room. The kids hold their leaves in hands like trees. ONE RULE: LEAVES DON'T TALK! If you talk, the magic wand will tap you "out" of the game and you must sit.
- Teacher is the Wind Fairy who blows around and makes the leaves dance, sometimes wild and fast, sometimes gentle and slow.
- Basically, let the music tell you how to move: it's obvious ABA. Run around waving your wand and the kids will run around waving their leaves. Then slow down and make smooth movements with the wand and they will move differently without you even telling them to. Then back to the running, dancing part.
- At the end, toss the leaves high in the air and watch them fall, students leaving their arms up in the air like naked trees.
It's very effective and what fun!