Body Language and Gestures

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Imperial Academy - Body Language and Gestures

Body Language and Gestures

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Unit 8: Speaking on Stage  

LESSON 4: Body Language and Gestures
Age Group: 2-3 years old
Duration: 30 minutes

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

  1. Drama: Students will be able to use simple gestures to emphasise key words or actions.  

  2. Music: Students will be able to move naturally in rhythm with the scene flow.  

  3. Performance Readiness: Students will be able to maintain open, welcoming body language, face the audience, and demonstrate appropriate on‑stage behaviour while others speak.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

  1. Fruit props (apples, oranges, lemons, etc.)  
  2. Floor arrows or entrance markers
  3. Assigned spot markers 
  4. Narrator script 
  5. Percussion instrument (chime or drum)
  6. Sharing Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96fq4YmYjzQ
  7. Lesson PowerPoint:

REMARK: If possible, carry out this lesson on the actual stage or performance space to help children become familiar with entrances, center positions, and exits in the real environment.

LESSON PROCEDURES:
1. Warm-up (3 minutes)

• Invite children to form a circle.
• Sing “Sharing Song” with designed movements.
• Invite children to copy teacher‑modelled gestures
 

2. Introduce Today’s Focus: Body Language and Gestures (4 minutes)

• Invite children to watch a teacher demonstration of:  
  - open body posture  
  - closed body posture  
  - simple gestures that match words  
• Guide attention to how gestures help the audience understand the story.  
• Invite children to try short warm‑up lines with gestures.

1. “Showing” Gestures (open hands, presenting fruit)

  • “Look at this!”

  • “We have something!”

  • “Here it is!” 

2. “Welcoming” Gestures (open arms, soft posture)

  • “Come join us.”

  • “Welcome, friends.”

  • “Let’s stand together.” 

3. “Holding” Gestures (fruit‑holding practice)

  • “I have apples.”

  • “This is for you.”

  • “We brought something.” 

4. “Still Body / Listening Body” Lines

  • “I’m standing still.”

  • “I’m listening now.”

  • “I’m waiting for my turn.” 

5. “Audience‑Facing” Lines

  • “I see the audience.”

  • “I’m ready to speak.” 

6. “Group Energy” Lines

  • “We are together.”

  • “Let’s make juice!”

  • “We love rainbow juice!”

 

3.   Practise Fruit‑Holding Gestures (8 minutes)

(Using the “We have ___!” lines from Scene 7)
• Invite Alligator Family to step forward and practise:  “We have apples!”  
• Guide children to:  
  - hold fruit props at chest level  
  - face the audience with open posture  
  - use a clear, simple showing gesture  
• Repeat with Wolf, Ostrich, Monkey, Lion, Panda, Kangaroo, Pig, Lizard, and Gorilla Families.  
• Guide children to return to still, listening posture after speaking.  




4. Practise Group Movement and On‑Stage Behaviour (8 minutes) 

(Using the full entrance of all families in Scene 7)  
Entrance Movement Practice  
• Invite all families to enter together on the narrator cue.  
• Guide children to walk naturally, keeping bodies open and relaxed.  

On‑Stage Behaviour Practice  
• Invite children to stand in their formation spots.  
• Guide children to:  
  - keep bodies still while others speak  
  - face the audience  
  - hold props calmly  
  - maintain welcoming posture  
 

5. Mini Scene Run‑Through (5 minutes)

*(Full Scene 7: All families → fruit lines → Bears’ final lines)*  
• Invite children to follow the full speaking order.  
• Guide simple gestures for each fruit line.  
• Reinforce open posture during group moments.  
• Guide children to stay still and attentive during the Bears’ final lines.
 

6. Cool Down (2 minutes)

• Invite children to return to circle.  
• Lead soft breathing and gentle stretching.  

 

ASSESSMENT:

- Observe use of simple gestures during fruit lines.  
- Assess natural movement during entrances.  
- Evaluate open, audience‑facing posture.  
- Monitor stillness and appropriate behaviour while others speak.