Play a different version of freeze dance, using spatial language.
Children use spatial language (behind and in front of, left and right) as they have fun dancing.
Materials
- Music player (phone, iPad, etc.)
Preparation
- Decide if you want to play the game indoors or outdoors.
- This activity helps children practice left and right, in front of, and behind. Plan how you will go over left and right with children, using your favorite way of explaining how to tell one from the other. (One suggestion is to put a sticker on children’s right hands.) Remember: Learning left and right takes repetition and practice, usually over several years!
- When you play, keep in mind that if you’re facing children, your left and right, front and behind will be different from theirs. Make sure you are using the same left/right and front/back as they are.
Directions
- Model left, right, in front of, and behind for your children before beginning to play.
- Tell the children they are going to play freeze dance, but it’s different than the way they usually play it. When they stop dancing and freeze, you’ll ask them who froze to the right and the left of them, or who froze in front of and behind them.
- Put on music and have them dance. Encourage them to move around rather than dancing in the same place.
- Say FREEZE! Then ask children one set of these questions:
- Who’s where? Who’s frozen behind you? Who’s frozen in front of you?
- Who’s where? Who’s frozen to the left of you? Who’s frozen to the right of you?
- Each time they freeze, alternate between the two sets of questions.
- If children enjoy the game, try it again several times during the week, and in the weeks to come. Repeat right/left activities frequently!