Feel the Flow Lesson Plan Feel the Flow
Movement, Expression & Abstract Motion
Why This Matters
Abstract movement activities nurture creativity, physical awareness, and emotional expression. By adapting prompts for all K–12 levels, every learner engages at a fitting challenge, builds confidence, and connects feelings with motion.
Time
40 minutes total
Audience
K–12 (Primary focus: 1st Grade)
Approach
Guided exploration & reflection
Materials Needed
Large Open Space
Movement Prompt Cards
Emotion Word Cards
Movement Reflection Sheet
Crayons
Preparation
Time: 10 minutes
• Print and cut out Movement Prompt & Emotion cards.
• Copy Reflection Sheets for each student.
• Clear desks and furniture for a safe movement area.
• Review differentiation ideas for your grade level.
Learning Objective
Students will explore and express abstract movement through guided play, body-awareness exercises, and creative prompts, fostering physical coordination, social–emotional growth, and artistic expression.
Lesson Flow
1
Introduction to Abstract Movement
5 MIN
Explain that abstract movement means using your body to show feelings, ideas, or things instead of everyday actions.
Examples: Glide like a cloud (calm), bounce like a ball (excited), sway like grass (relaxed), slither like a snake, ripple like water (gentle).Quick Try: Invite students to call out a word or image and show it with their body immediately.
2
Warm-Up Circle
7 MIN
Gather students in a circle.
Lead simple warm-up stretches: reaching arms high, arm shakes, ankle & wrist circles.
Discussion: "How does your body feel when you do each movement?"
3
Guided Free Movement
12 MIN
Shuffle Movement Prompt Cards and let each student draw one.
Read the prompt (e.g., “Move like wiggly jelly”).
Invite students to interpret it with full-body motions for 1–2 minutes.
Play soft background music. Rotate until every student has tried a prompt.
4
Emotion Movement Matching
8 MIN
Distribute one Emotion Word Card per student.
Ask students to think of and demonstrate a movement that matches their emotion.
Peers guess the emotion; celebrate creativity and effort!
5
Reflect, Draw & Share
8 MIN
Hand out Movement Reflection Sheets and crayons.
Students draw their favorite movement and circle the emotion they felt.
Invite volunteers to share drawings or perform a quick movement again.
Closing: “How did moving make you feel today?”
Grade-Level Adaptations
K–2 (Early Elementary)
Use simple single-movement prompts; focus on exploring space (high, low, wide, narrow) and specific body parts.
3–5 (Upper Elementary)
Encourage linking 2–3 movements into a mini-sequence; introduce simple peer feedback on what they observed.
6–8 (Middle School)
Introduce dynamic qualities (tempo, force, weight). Try partner or small-group improvisation prompts.
9–12 (High School)
Challenge students to design a short abstract movement piece; include a written reflection on intent, emotion, and choice.
Feel the Flow Slides 1st Grade Movement
Feel the Flow
A 30-minute journey to explore abstract movement through creativity, expression, and body awareness.
TEACHER NOTES: Welcome everyone! Today we’ll guide 1st graders through a fun journey of movement. Encourage excitement and safe exploration.
Objective &
Materials
Our Goal
We will use movement to express feelings, cooperate with friends, and build coordination.
What We Need
Large Open Space
Movement Prompt Cards
Emotion Word Cards
Reflection Sheets & Crayons
TEACHER NOTES: Review the objective. Show each material and explain how it will be used today.
Warm-Up Circle
5 MINUTES
Form a circle in our open space.
Stretches: Arms high, shakes, and circles.
"How does your body feel?"
TEACHER NOTES: Model each warm-up move clearly. Invite kids to notice physical sensations.
Guided Free Movement
10 MINUTES
1
Draw a Movement Prompt Card .
2
Listen to the prompt:
3
Move your whole body for 2 minutes!
🎵
Listen to the Flow
Soft music will play while you move
TEACHER NOTES: Shuffle cards beforehand. Play soft background music. Rotate until everyone tries a prompt.
Emotion Movement
7 MINUTES
The Challenge
Think of a movement that shows the emotion on your card (Happy, Calm, Brave, etc.).
The Guessing Game
Show your movement. Can your classmates guess how you feel?
HAPPY 😊
CALM 😌
BRAVE 🦁
PROUD 🦸♂️
CURIOUS 🤔
SURPRISED 😲
TEACHER NOTES: Distribute one card per student. Celebrate each demonstration and encourage peers to guess.
Reflect & Share
8 MINUTES
Draw & Circle
Draw your favorite movement.
Circle how it made you feel.
5 minutes
Celebrate!
Share your drawing or show your movement one more time for applause!
Final Question:
"How did moving make you feel today?"
3 minutes
Movement Prompt Cards Worksheet Movement Prompt Cards
Feel the Flow: Creative Exploration
Cut along the dashed lines
Teacher Instructions: Cut along the dashed lines to create individual cards. Place them face down in a pile. Students draw one card to inspire their abstract movement for 1-2 minutes.
🍮
Move like
wiggly jelly
🌊
Flow like
a river
🌪️
Twist like
a tornado
🦒
Stretch tall
like a giraffe
🍿
Bounce like
popcorn
☁️
Float like
a cloud
🐍
Slither like
a snake
🎖️
March like
a soldier
🌀
Spin like
a top
🐻
Crawl like
a bear
🦋
Flutter like
a butterfly
🍬
Twist like
a candy cane
Emotion Word Cards Worksheet Emotion Word Cards
Feel the Flow: Emotional Expression
Cut along the dashed lines
Teacher Instructions: Cut along the dashed lines to create individual Emotion Word Cards. Place them face down in a pile. Students draw one card and think of a movement that shows the emotion on their card.
😊
Happy
😢
Sad
😄
Excited
😌
Calm
🤔
Curious
😲
Surprised
😴
Sleepy
😠
Angry
🦸♂️
Proud
😬
Nervous
🦁
Brave
😳
Shy Movement Reflection Sheet Worksheet Movement Reflection Sheet
Feel the Flow
Name
Date
1
Draw Your Movement
Use the space below to draw your favorite movement from today's class.
2
How Did You Feel?
Circle the emotion (or emotions) you felt while you were moving:
Happy 😊
Sad 😢
Excited 😄
Calm 😌
Curious 🤔
Surprised 😲
Sleepy 😴
Angry 😠
Proud 🦸♂️
Nervous 😬
Brave 🦁
Shy 😳
Other feeling:
