This activity explores your wild side through drama and movement!
What you’ll need: Space enough to move around, and one other person (it can be done on your own, but it's more fun with others!)
What’s it for:
This activity is about self-exploration and imaginative play. It can support your self-confidence and non-verbal communication.
Check In:
Notice how you’re feeling right now. Close your eyes and notice what’s going on inside your mind and body.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
How does your body feel?
Method:
Start with a physical warm-up to prepare for big and small movements:
Start crouched down on the floor and slowly reach up as high as you can go!
Try scrunching yourself up into a little ball, taking up as little space as possible!
Try stretching yourself out, taking up as much space as possible!
Now do a vocal warm-up
Without using words, start by making quiet gibberish sounds and then get louder
Try sliding from a high note down to a low note in a swooping sound
Now you're warmed up, think of a small animal and ask yourself:
How do they walk?
Do they jump?
How do they move?
What sounds do they make?
Pretend to be the animal! If you're playing with a partner perhaps they could guess what animal you're pretending to be!
Imagine and act out what it would be like for the animal in different circumstances, such as:
How would the animal act in the sunshine? Rain? During a storm?
How would the animal act in the countryside? The city? In a house?
Now think of a bigger animal and go through the process again. Repeat the process each time with a bigger animal!
If you're working with a partner, make sure that both of you have a turn.
Ask your partner whether there's anything you can add to your performance to make it seem even more like the animal.
Extra Activity: If you're working with a partner, both pretend to be different animals and play out safely how they would interact. Try drawing the animals you pretended to be.
When you’ve finished, spend a moment reflecting on the activity and ask yourself the following questions:
Did you learn anything new about yourself while pretending to be different animals?
Is there anything in the animals and the way they act that you recognise in yourself?
Was it easier for you to be a smaller or bigger animal?
How did it feel pretending to be different animals?
Was anything challenging in the play?
Conclusion:
Choosing and pretending to be different animals can help us identify different qualities in ourselves. For example, you might find it very fun and easy pretending to be a kitten but being a fierce grizzly bear might feel challenging. Think about why that might be the case! This activity can also help you to think about how you move and take up space as a person: do you tend to take up as little space as possible, like a little mouse, or fill up the room, like an elephant?!
If you would like to, share something about your experience with this activity with someone you live with! Ask the person who looks after you to send us an email if you have any questions or comments about the activity, or would like to send us any pictures (info@catcorner.co.uk). Don't forget to subscribe for more fun CAT activities!
Created by Vanessa Reid © May 2022
Creative Arts Used: Drama
Psychological Areas Explored: Self-exploration, Self-Esteem, Play, Relationships
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These activities could be done by children of all ages, but some may need the support of their parent or carer to read the instructions or complete the activity safely.
This website was made by CAT Corner to help you explore your feelings through fun creative arts activities. The people using the website and the people responsible for them need to make sure they stay safe (full disclaimer on About page).
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