Justify Action encourages children to think quickly and give meaning to their actions in the moment.
It helps build confidence in improvisation and character creation.
1. Get moving
Ask everyone to find a space in the room. Start some upbeat music and have the children move around, making imaginative shapes with their bodies, such as tall, wide, spiky or bent.
2. Freeze and justify
When the music stops, everyone freezes in place. The grown-up clicks above a child's head and that child must bring their frozen shape to life with a movement and a sentence that explains their position.
3. Examples of shapes
For example, if a child is shaped like a star, they might say, "Come on, everyone, it's aerobics time. Get those knees up." If they are crouched on the floor, they might say, "I must worship the forest gods. Praise the trees!"
4. Repeat and expand
Restart the music and play several more rounds. Encourage children to make bolder shapes, stronger movements, and bigger expressions each time.
Children love the freedom of this activity. It boosts improvisation confidence and challenges them to think quickly. Encourage them to be bold and not overthink.
Lucy Quick, Principal of Perform.
