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A resource center for teachers to enhance learning through integrating movement, exploration and mindfulness into classroom lessons. Many of the activities can be adapted to be used on a playground, at home, in the boardroom and beyond.
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What are you doing?
Short description of activity: A variation of charades where players have to pay close attention well before it is their turn.
Type of activity: Team Builder, Energizer
Minimum Time Needed for Activity: 5 min
Grade Level: 2nd and up
Subject Area: None, ELA
Materials:
None
Set up:
- Divide students into two lines, the first person of each line facing the other with their teammates single file behind each..
Play:
- Player A does a motion as in charades. Player B asks “What are you doing?”
- Player A must name a motion that doesn’t match the motion that they are doing.
- Player B must do the motion that player A named.
- Player A then asks, “What are you doing?”Player B’s response is to name a motion that doesn’t match the motion that they are doing and has not been named.
- example:Player A mimes eating with a fork. When asked what they are doing, the response is ‘hula hooping.” Player B mimes hula hooping and replies that they are playing a guitar.
- Game continues until someone makes a mistake. When a player messes up, they go to the end of the line and the next person steps up.
Variations:
- Play can be done in a circle and progress around the circle.
- Player A begins with their motion, player B asks.
- Player B does the motion to player C, and it moves around the circle as such.
- When a mistake is made, the next player begins with a new action/round.
- Try to have the actions be relevant to a lesson: spelling words, food web, etc.