Letter Yoga
Self-regulation, literacy
I made one mistake in the video – I neglected to say that the location of the X they make with their body should reflect where they wrote it on the piece of paper. So if they made a very small X in the top left corner of their paper, they would make it (probably with their fingers) high and to the left.
In case it isn’t clear in the video, the poses I do in the beginning are ones the children are familiar with, so I am starting them off with something they know, that has breath attached to it. That way the transition to the new Letter Yoga feels easier.
There are innumerable variations you can do on this, and you can start with a much simpler version. I have actually only tried this as a much simpler version while videoconferencing with a class of five-year-olds, in which they formed an O and then moved to an X, and back; it went well. Here are some possible variations:
Form small groups of 3-5 children who move/dance while being their letter. Then they “throw” their letter to each other, the receiver catching it and making the same letter, but it can be in any form (doesn’t have to be using the same body parts or level, etc., as the thrower). (I have not tried this)
Partner up and make a two-letter word: ME. One person/group makes M, saying “mmmm,” then their partner makes an E, saying “eeee.” Do that a few times, then switch. You could do it with a group of five, and have them do the sounds to Old MacDonald: E – I – E – I – O.
