Lesson Plan: Lesson 17 – Mouse: Nibble and Dash

Age Group: K1 and K2 (3 to 5 years old)

Class Size: 10 children

Duration: 60 minutes

Focus Area:  Small mouse body shape with quiet tiptoe; clear nose/whisker sniff focus; low, still freeze statue

Learning Objectives

• Children will be able to mime holding cheese and nibbling with tiny, tidy bites.
• Children will be able to dash safely and crouch in a “hole” finish without wobble.
• Children will be able to keep actions distinct so the audience reads the story.
   

Materials Needed

• Floor markers for “cheese spot(s),” “pathway,” and “mouse hole” zones
• Visual aids: small cheese icon, tiny bite cue, hole/crouch shape
• Soft instrumental music for movement and freeze cues
• Chime or soft drum for start/stop
• Optional prompt pictures: cheese, crumb, biscuit

Procedures

5 min Warm-up: Body + Breath

Purpose: To settle the group, awaken small-shape control, and prepare quick–still contrasts.

• Gentle stretches: curl small like a mouse, open a little, then curl small again; roll shoulders;
  bend and straighten knees.
• Belly breathing: quiet inhale through nose; soft “mouse air” exhale through mouth.
• Face and jaw prep: tiny mouth open–close for “nibble,” relax jaw; quick eyes left/right to prepare for dash awareness. 
   

15 min Technique Focus 1:  Nibble Clarity with Small Bites

Purpose: To show precise, repeatable tiny bites with a clear “holding cheese” shape.

• Cheese hold:
  • Hands together in front at chest height, forming a small triangle or “wedge.”
  • Elbows tucked; mouse body small; eyes on the cheese.
• Nibble sequence (model with counts):
  • 1. Present cheese to mouth line (1).
  • 2. Tiny bite: small jaw open–close, lips closed after, no sound (1).
  • 3. Chew–chew (2 slow, tiny beats).
  • 4. Pause still to show taste (hold 1).
  • Repeat pattern: bite → chew–chew → pause. Do three neat bites without moving the feet.
• Clarity rules:
  • Keep the bites tiny and identical each time.
  • Eyes track cheese to mouth; body stays quiet; no talking.
  • Cheese remains between hands—don’t “float” it around.
• Mirror drill:
  • Teacher shows tempo with fingers: tap-tap = bite-chew; children match exactly.

15 min Technique Focus 2:  Quick Dash and Crouch into “Hole”

Purpose: To build a safe, controlled dash and low, steady finish without wobble.

• Path setup: mark a short straight lane from cheese spot to a “hole” circle on the floor/wall edge.
• Dash mechanics:
  • Start small: knees soft, body low, elbows tucked; eyes on pathway.
  • Quick small steps on chime (4–6 steps), quiet feet; arms stay close.
  • Stop at hole line; no sliding or jumping into others’ space.
• Crouch finish (hole statue):
  • Heels down, knees bent, bum low; spine rounded small; hands tuck to chest or “guard the cheese.”
  • Face calm; eyes forward or down; hold still for 2–3 counts.
• Safety and control:
  • One mover per lane; check space is clear before dash.
  • Dash is quick but quiet; end with a gentle “brake” into crouch.
• Drill pattern:
  • Ready small → Dash (1–4/6) → Crouch statue (hold 3) → Stand small → Walk back slowly.

10 min Guided Application to Exam Task (Mouse Micro-Story)

Purpose: To combine nibble clarity with a quick, readable dash-to-hole finish.

• Model the micro-story with counts:
    1. Find cheese, small body (eyes on cheese) (hold 1).
    2. Bite → chew–chew → pause (x2 or x3 cycles).
    3. Quick look to hole (eyes lead) (1).
    4. Dash on pathway (1–4/6).
    5. Low crouch in hole holding cheese (hold 3, very still).

10 min Performance + Feedback

Purpose: To build confidence and keep actions distinct for audience clarity.

• Invite single turns on a marked lane: cheese spot → pathway → hole.
• Observe:
  • Clear cheese hold; tiny bite size; steady chew beats and pause.
  • Safe, straight dash with eyes leading; arms tucked.
  • Low, steady hole statue without wobble, held for 2–3 counts.
  • Distinct action beats (nibble vs. dash vs. statue).
• Feedback phrases:
  • “Your tiny bites were tidy and clear.”
  • “Great eyes to the hole before your dash.”
  • “Quiet, quick feet and a very steady hole statue.”
  • “I could read each step of your story.”

5 min Calm Close

Purpose: To help children wind down and finish proud and calm.

• “Mouse rest”: sit small like a curled mouse; breathe in through nose, out softly through mouth.
• Gentle self-hug; two quiet breaths; thank children for careful nibbling and safe dashes; preview the next lesson.

Extension Ideas

• Bite-count game: 1 bite, pause; 2 bites, pause; 3 bites, pause—match teacher’s tempo.
• Dash-then-statue challenge: who can stop the fastest and hold the steadiest crouch?
• Path choices: straight and gentle curve, keeping the same quiet speed and clear stop.