Breath and Flow Guide Breath and Flow
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 1
Goal
Students will understand how their breath can guide their movement, creating fluid and continuous motions. They will use scarves to visualize "air" and "wind."
Materials
Silk scarves or ribbons
Classical or ambient music (slow tempo)
"Breath and Flow" Slides
"Wind Dancer" Worksheet
Movement Journey
1
The Hook: Leaf in the Wind
Ask: "If you were a leaf blowing in the wind, how would you move?" Let them show you for 30 seconds without music. Observe their natural instinct for flow.
2
Scarf Visualization
Give each student a scarf. Guide them to:
Breathe in deep: Lift the scarf high.
Breathe out: Let the scarf float slowly down.
Wave the scarf like a gentle breeze.
3
Becoming the Scarf
Have students put the scarves down. Now, they must move their arms and bodies exactly like the scarf moved. Encourage "spaghetti arms" and soft, round motions.
Discussion Questions
How does your body feel when you move slowly like wind?
What happens to our breath when the music stops?
Support & Safety
Safety First
Ensure enough "bubble space" between students. With scarves, watch for slipping on the fabric if it falls on the floor. Maintain "low volume" feet (no stomping).
Differentiation
For extra support: Focus only on seated movement first.For extra challenge: Ask students to move at different levels (high, medium, low) while maintaining flow. Breath and Flow Slides Breath & Flow
Moving like the wind
Think...
If you were a leaf blowing in the wind, how would you move?
Breathe In
Reach high to the sky!
Breathe Out
Float down like a feather...
Flow Challenge
No stopping! Keep moving!
Wavy
Round
Soft
Wind Dancer Worksheet Name:
Date:
Wind Dancer
Lesson 1: Breath & Flow
Draw Your Wind!
How did you move today? Draw the lines of your dance below.
Draw Here
Circle how you felt:
😊
Happy
🧘
Calm
✨
Magic
My breath was...
Slow like a breeze
Fast like a storm
Floor Explorers Guide Floor Explorers
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 2
Goal
Students will learn how to move safely on the floor using "soft joints" (bending elbows and knees) to avoid impacts. They will explore rolling, sliding, and crawling.
Prep
Ensure floor is clean and clear of debris.
Prepare "Floor Safari" music (drums or jungle sounds).
Markers/Crayons for worksheet.
Exploration Path
1
The Marble Roll
Hook: "Can you roll across the floor as smoothly as a marble?" Demonstrate a "log roll." Encourage students to keep their bodies long but their muscles "hugging their bones."
2
Soft Joints (Ninja Knees)
Teach the "No Sound" rule. If your knee hits the floor and makes a sound, it wasn't soft! Practice melting from standing to kneeling slowly.
"We aren't falling, we are melting like butter on a pancake!"
3
Floor Safari
Imagine the floor is a jungle. Students must travel across without being seen (low level). Use prompt cards or slides: "Snake Slither," "Tiger Prowl," "Turtle Slide."
Reflection
Ask the Explorers:
Which animal was the hardest to move like on the floor?
How did you keep your knees and elbows safe and quiet?
Floor Explorers Slides Floor Explorers
Adventures at the Low Level
The Secret Rule
NO SOUND!
Melting knees are quiet knees...
The Marble Roll
Long Body
Smooth Turn
Floor Safari!
🐍
Snake Slither
🐅
Tiger Prowl
🐢
Turtle Slide
Explorer Mission
Can you travel from one side of the room to the other without standing up?
Floor Safari Worksheet Name:
Date:
Floor Safari
Lesson 2: Safe Floor Moves
My Favorite Safari Animal!
Draw the animal you liked moving like on the floor today.
Draw Here
Safety Check: Circle the "Soft Joints"!
Where do we bend our bodies to stay quiet?
Knees
Elbows
Smile
Pop and Squeeze Guide Pop and Squeeze
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 3
Goal
Students will explore the contemporary dance concepts of contraction (squeeze) and release (pop). They will use their whole body to change size and shape.
Music
Music with sudden changes in volume or tempo.
Classical: "In the Hall of the Mountain King" (for building tension).
Contraction & Release
1
The Squeeze (Contraction)
Tell students they are tiny seeds. "Squeeze every muscle! Hug your knees, tuck your chin. Become a tiny ball." Use the word "Contraction."
Focus: Tightness in the tummy and rounded back.
2
The Pop (Release)
"1, 2, 3... POP!" Explode into a giant star. Reach fingers and toes out as far as possible. Use the word "Release."
Focus: Expanding the chest and straight limbs.
3
Popcorn Dance
Play music. When the music is quiet, they are "seeds" (squeezing). When the music gets loud/fast, they "pop" into stars across the floor.
Dance Words
CONTRACTION
Making the body small and tight.
RELEASE
Letting go and getting big.
Pop and Squeeze Slides Pop & Squeeze
Small Seeds and Big Stars
The Squeeze
Can you be a tiny seed?
Tuck your chin, hug your knees!
The Pop!
Explode into a star!
Reach high and wide!
Today's Dance Secrets...
Contraction
Release
Popcorn!
🤫
Music Quiet = Squeeze
💥
Music Loud = POP!
Seed to Star Worksheet Name:
Date:
Seed to Star
Lesson 3: Pop & Squeeze
1. SQUEEZE
Draw yourself as a tiny seed!
Tiny Seed
2. POP!
Draw yourself as a giant star!
Giant Star
Dance Words Match!
Contraction
🤏
Release
👐
Feeling Moves Guide Feeling Moves
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 4
Goal
Students will explore how emotions like happy, sad, angry, and calm can be expressed through body shapes and movement quality.
Music Prep
Upbeat/Jumping (Happy)
Slow/Low (Sad)
Sharp/Staccato (Angry)
Smooth/Flowing (Calm)
Embodying Emotions
1
Emotion Statues
Call out an emotion. Students must freeze in a shape that shows that feeling. "Show me a SHY shape." "Show me a BRAVE shape." Encourage whole-body expression (not just the face!).
2
Moving through Feelings
How does a "Sad" shape walk? (Low, slow, heavy). How does an "Angry" shape walk? (Sharp, strong, heavy). How does a "Happy" shape move? (Light, bouncy, high).
Practice traveling from one side of the room to the other as a specific emotion.
3
The Feeling Storm
Tell a quick story about a storm. The clouds are ANGRY (sharp moves), the rain is CALM (flowing moves), the sun is HAPPY (jumping moves). Switch quickly!
Thinking Deeply
Can you tell how someone feels just by how they move?
What was your body's favorite feeling to dance today?
Feeling Moves Slides Feeling Moves
Our Bodies Tell a Story
☀️
Happy
High, Light, Fast
☁️
Sad
Low, Heavy, Slow
⚡
Angry
Sharp, Strong, Tight
🌊
Calm
Smooth, Soft, Flowy
Freeze!
When I say a feeling, turn into a statue that LOOKS like that feeling!
DANCE IT!
Now, travel across the floor as that feeling. Don't stop moving until you reach the other side!
Emotion Shape Drawing Worksheet Name:
Date:
Feeling Shapes
Lesson 4: Moving Emotions
My Dancing Heart
Draw yourself moving with your favorite feeling today.
Feeling Statue
😊
Happy
I move FAST!
😢
Sad
I move SLOW!
😡
Angry
I move SHARP!
🧘
Calm
I move SOFT!
"When I dance, I can tell the world how I feel!"
Dance Makers Guide Dance Makers
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 5 (Finale)
Goal
Students will combine breath, floor work, contraction/release, and emotion to create their own guided improvisation based on a story prompt.
Prep
Music: A cinematic, orchestral track (e.g., Disney scores).
"Dance Maker" certificates (optional).
Low lighting or "fairy lights" to create a performance mood.
The Magical Story Improvisation
Teacher Script: "The Growing Garden"
Step 1: The Seed (Contraction). "It's a dark night in the garden. Everyone is a tiny, tight seed buried in the dirt. Squeeze your body small."
Step 2: The Breath (Flow). "The morning sun comes up. Breathe in... feel the wind blow the leaves. Your arms are like scarves, waving gently."
Step 3: Breaking the Surface (Release). "1, 2, 3... POP! You grow into a giant flower. Release your energy into the room!"
Step 4: The Visitor (Floor Work). "Suddenly, you are a turtle crawling through the garden. Move silently on the floor. Soft knees! No sound!"
Step 5: The Celebration (Emotion). "The garden is so happy! Move across the floor with your light, bouncy, happy dance. You are a choreographer!"
Artist Reflection
"Today, we didn't just dance steps. We made a story with our bodies."
What was your favorite part of the garden story?
How does it feel to make your own moves instead of copying me?
Dance Makers Slides Dance Makers
You are the Choreographer!
Today's Big Word
CHOREOGRAPHER
A person who invents dances and creates movements!
Our Dance Tools
Breath
Floor Work
Pop & Squeeze
Feelings
The Story
Close your eyes. Imagine a garden.
Showtime!
Listen to the music and follow the story.
My Dance Story Sheet Name:
Date:
My Dance Story
Lesson 5: I am a Choreographer!
Drawing My Masterpiece
In our garden dance, what was your body doing? Draw yourself as a flower, a seed, or a turtle.
The Finale
Official Choreographer
I used my whole body to tell a story!
✨
