Move & Groove – Get Into Shapes
December 8, 2009 by Adrian
Filed under Move and Groove
Consider the fact that the human body has over two hundred joints; in essence we were born to move. So many moving parts, so little time… many millions of shapes can be made with so much potential. Getting to know our own bodies and their capabilities (and limitations) is a continuous exploration, and as children grow, they become more and more familiar with their own physical terrain, which allows them to develop greater grace, ease and agility in their movements.
The exploration of the shapes our bodies can make is a great game to further awareness of the body’s moving parts. It also helps to build balance and coordination. It can be used in the classroom for the dual purpose of physical education and a change of pace, (when one is needed). Play it as a game unto itself or as a warm-up before other exercises.
The Get Into Shapes game itself is very simple. Players stand in a circle, with one player acting as the demonstrator. The demonstrator comes into the center of the circle and creates a shape with their body, whatever shape they can imagine. The other players then mimic the same shape with their own bodies. Each demonstrator shows three shapes and then it is the next person’s turn, continuing around the circle until everyone has had a turn.
Remind children that there are many hundreds of moving parts in the body. (There is an ongoing debate about exactly how many… but suffice to say that there are at least 230 joints, and potentially up to 360 joints.) That’s a lot to work with. Encourage them to bend different parts in different directions simultaneously. For instance, the head can bend one way, while the waist bends in the opposite direction. Balancing on one leg will make a shape more dynamic, as will rising up on the balls of the feet. Or try placing one or two hands on the floor and turning the world upside down, which is especially fun when you are a child!
As with anything else, confidence and learning occurs with exploration, repetition and play. Building confidence and awareness in the body is a vital part of learning to care for our bodies. After all, we have to make them last for a good long time. Grooving with our bodies etches those grooves in our brains, sending the message that moving feels good and is fun. And that is the name of the game.
