Arts in Education Strategies

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Warm Ups:

THE STICK GAME
Using a yard stick, pointer (or any object that can be passed around), pantomime making it into something else, e.g., a toothbrush, guitar, canoe paddle, basketball, and have the class guess what it is. Establish a rhythm with clapping, and pass the stick or object back and forth to each member of the group. At first, take volunteers who have ideas of what the stick can become. Then, if a number of students are failing to use their imaginations, or to participate, start a Stick Race (below).

Going Further in Depth: Stick Race. Set a time limit (which you can refer to as the "world record") of maybe two minutes (longer with primary grades). At a signal from you, one student will "do a stick" (change it into something). When someone guesses correctly what the stick is, the student can pass the stick on to the person to their right in the circle. That next student has to pantomime something until someone guesses it. The object is to get the stick all the way around the circle and set a new record. Tell students if the stick gets to them and they can't think of anything new, just pantomime one of the objects they have already seen, so the game can keep going. This gives the shy students an "out" if they can't come up with a new idea spontaneously.

Stick Game Extrapolation: Group statues may be used to create all sorts of frozen images: illustrations from books, historical events, paintings, moments from a story. These can also be set into motion. Adding motion can allow students to demonstrate scientific and mathematical principles such as the solar system, the water cycle, and geometric shapes.

Spelling Stick Game: Use the cards with images from the Stick Game Extrapolation (above). Have students choose and do the stick thereon. Then have the audience guess and spell the word.

NOTE: The stick game is an excellent way to stimulate the imagination and get the creative juices flowing.

NOTE: Emphasize awareness of space when swinging the stick. Students should come to the center of the circle, away from the others, and if they have to swing the stick (as with baseball bats or swords), they should do it in slow motion so as not to hurt anyone. This strategy was taken from the book "Teaching Curriculum Through the Arts," available at http://www.creativeeducationalsystems.com/web_files/TeachingCurriculum.html

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