Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will understand how living things move in response to different stimuli, such as sounds, lights, and touch. They will be able to identify and demonstrate different types of movements based on various stimuli.

Materials and Prep

No additional materials are needed for this lesson. Just a comfortable space for movement and a few simple sounds or actions to create stimuli.

Activities

• Sound Dance: Play different sounds (like clapping, whistling, or animal noises) and encourage the student to move in response. For example, if they hear a dog bark, they can pretend to be a dog running around.

• Shadow Play: Use a flashlight or natural light to create shadows on the wall. Ask the student to move their hands or body to create different shapes and see how the shadows change.

• Touch and Go: Gently touch the student’s shoulder and ask them to jump or spin. Discuss how their body moved because of your touch, and encourage them to do the same to you!

• Freeze Dance: Play music and let them dance freely. When the music stops, they must freeze in place. Discuss how their body stops moving when the music stops, just like how some animals stop when they sense danger.

Talking Points

• "Did you know that animals move when they hear sounds? What do you think a cat does when it hears a loud noise?"
• "Look at your shadow! When you move, your shadow moves too! Isn’t that fun?"
• "When I touch your shoulder, how does your body know to jump? That’s your body responding to touch!"
• "When the music stops, your body stops too! That shows how we can respond to sounds."
• "Every time something happens around us, our bodies can react in different ways. Can you think of a time you moved because of something you saw or heard?"