Care 1.0 Program Class 4
CLASS 4 | POETRY MOVES
TRAINING FOCUS
Topic How creative play can support physical engagement, intellectual stimulation.
What Work together to create movements inspired by a poetry prompt.
Squeezable soft balls if using the Backup Plan variation
WELCOME
- Welcome students with a short orientation to the location, time, and
people in the room. - Share in simple terms how engaging our minds together is good for our thinking and wellbeing.
Let’s make sure we all know each other. I’m (state your name and your role, if applicable). And this is (if in a group, allow time for introductions providing assistance as needed).
We are sitting in the (description of room or location). Today is (day of the week, month, date). It is (share description of the weather, time of year, important anniversary date, etc.).
This is our brain wellness class. We are here to learn and enjoy our time together. We will do some things to keep us healthy across body, mind and spirit. And we will have fun!
LET'S GET IT STARTED
- Lead the optional seated physical warmup.
- Use the TBH music to set your pace, or choose your own.
FEET GET STARTED!
- Tap toes on both feet, up and down. 10 repetitions. Count together 1 to 10.
LEGS GET STARTED!
- Stamp feet on the ground to the beat of the music. Make “noise” with group.
- Gently kick legs out from the knee, alternating legs. 10 repetitions. Count together 1 to 10.
- March in place, alternating legs. 10 repetitions. Count together 1 to 10.
ARMS STARTED!
- Gently shake arms, open and close hands.
- Circle wrists a few times in clockwise and counterclockwise.
- Gently circle arms. 5 repetitions. Count together 1 to 5.
- Shrug shoulders up and down, with hands on knees. 5 repetitions. Count together 1 to 5.
VOICES GET STARTED!
- Say “OHHHHHHHHHH.” Have group say sound with you. Hold for a few seconds.
- Say “EHHHHHHHHHH.” Have group say sound with you. Hold for a few seconds.
- Say “AHHHHHHHHHH.” Have group say sound with you. Hold for a few seconds.
- Repeat each sound again. Have group say sound with you. Hold for a few seconds.
BREATH GETS STARTED!
- Slow focus to bring awareness to sitting still in chair.
- Take a deep breath in through the nose. Exhale out through the mouth.
- Repeat slow, focused breathing for 5 rounds.
- Give selves big hug, wrapping arms across waist and squeezing gently, as able.
- Thank selves and send some “TBH love” to our brains!
Let’s start with a warm-up exercise. We will be moving and thinking together right in our seats! Watch what I do and follow along.
(At end of warmup) Great job, everyone! We are started up and ready to go!
Click here for the TBH Let’s Get It Started! complete guide.
SHARE THE SCIENCE
Share these science facts before or during the training workout.
- Do you have a favorite poem? What is it?
- Poetry is a way we can be creative
- Poetry helps us think about things differently.
- There are many ways we can enjoy poetry.
- We can read or listen to poetry together.
- What would you write a poem about?
LET'S TRAIN
- Lead your students as you read and create movements to a poetry prompt.
- Select a TBH Poetry Moves prompt from below.
- Read the poetry prompt aloud to your students.
- Read the lines or words slowly, talking and trying together different movements, sounds, etc. inspired by the motion and emotion in the poetry.
- Read the poetry prompt again, this time acting out together all the moves, sounds, etc. you created to go with the words of the poem.
TBH POETRY MOVES PROMPTS (Pick 1 – 3 prompts)
From Who Has Seen the Wind?
Christina Rossetti
Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you;
But when the leaves hang trembling
The wind is passing through.
From Sweet and Low
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Sweet and low, sweet and low
Wind of the western sea.
Low, low, breathe and blow,
Wind of the western sea!
From Afternoon on a Hill
Edna St. Vincent Millay
I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.
From Fog
Carl Sandburg
The fog comes on little cat feet.
It sits looking over harbor and city
on silent haunches and then moves on.
From Lift Every Voice and Sing
James Weldon Johnson
Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
From Song of Songs
King Solomon
Awake, north wind; and come, you south!
Blow on my garden,
that its spices may flow out.
Let my beloved come into his garden,
and taste his precious fruits.
Dawn
Emily Dickinson
Not knowing when the dawn will come
I open every door;
Or has it feathers like a bird,
Or billows like a shore?
Time is
Henry Van Dyke
Time is
Too Slow for those who Wait,
Too Swift for those who Fear,
Too Long for those who Grieve,
Too Short for those who Rejoice;
But for those who Love,
Time is not.
Let’s start our workout. We are going to read some poetry together. Then we will move to the words as we read it together.
Repeat the class at a later date to boost mastery and confidence.
Select a different TBH Poetry Moves prompt from the list.
ADAPT THE WORKOUT
Adapt as needed so everyone can fully benefit from the workout.
Make It Harder. Take turns with students setting a creative move to a line of the poem.
Adapt as needed so everyone can fully benefit from the workout.
Make It Easier. Limit verbal instruction. Read the poem line by line and focus on the creative movement aspect of the activity.
Adapt as needed so everyone can fully benefit from the workout.
Backup Plan. Read the poetry prompt aloud. Offer gentle motions such as softly clapping your hands together, lightly stroke the top of their hands, etc. in keeping with the rhythm of the poem. Option to offer soft balls to squeeze in rhythm with the poetry.
TAKE A BREATH
- Lead the optional breathing relaxation cooldown.
- Use the TBH music to set your pace, or choose your own.
- Have student/s get comfortable, resting both feet flat on the floor, hands resting in their laps on their thighs.
- Have student/s close their eyes and keep them gently closed if they are comfortable doing so.
- Ask student/s to focus their attention on their breathing, noticing the rate and rhythm of their breath. Allow them to focus on their natural breathing for a few moments.
- Instruct student/s to begin rhythmic breathing. Ask them to inhale slowly and deeply through their nostrils, breathing gently into their chest and belly. Then ask them to exhale slowly through their lips, slowing the rate and rhythm of their breath.
- Have student/s continue rhythmic breathing, instructing them to continue to focus on gently and slowly inhaling and exhaling, allowing their attention to simply “ride” the wave of their breath. Allow them to focus on rhythmic breathing for several moments.
- Offer the following positive affirmation statements below in a calm, slow voice.
- Invite student/s to simply listen or to repeat the phrase together with you.
My mind is relaxed.
I am glad to see the gardens.
I am happy to think about plants and flowers.
I am glad to be with friends.
- Pause for several moments, allowing your student/s to continue focusing on their breathing.
- End the exercise by inviting your student/s to bring their awareness back to the room, gently opening their eyes if closed, and becoming more aware of the room and of each other.
- Invite them to end practice with gratitude for taking a moment for themselves, for the chance to learn together and to connect with each other.
We will finish by relaxing together. We will use our breath to help us focus and feel calm. We will share how grateful we are to be together.
Click here for the complete TBH Take a Breath guide.
JOIN ANOTHER CLASS
- Thank students for attending class and exploring gardens together.
- Invite them to join your next class session.
I am glad we had time together today. We enjoyed moving to poetry together!
I hope you will join me for another class soon.
CLASS RESOURCES
