One of the best focus activities I know of is mirror movement. To begin this experience, the leader faces the rest of the participants and moves slowly. The group follows as if they were in a mirror (e.g. leader raises right hand, followers raise left). The trick is to keep it slow so that the followers can mirror the leader exactly. This takes quite a bit of concentration. Encourage the participants to not giggle and to really rise to the challenge.
Next, divide the group into pairs. One person is the leader and the other is the follower. Put on slow music to accompany the mirror movement. Switch leaders and try again.
Later, have the partners switch leaders while the music is playing. Use a signal (finger cymbals or a bell, for example) to let them know when to switch leaders. The challenge is to change leaders without others knowing who the leader is. In other words, the new leader picks up right where the previous leader left off.
Flocking is a variation on mirror movement. Have a group of students stand facing all the same direction with one student standing at the front facing the same direction as everyone else. Initiate slow movement with everyone imitating. When the person in front turns ninety degrees to the right or to the left, this places a different person in the front of the group and that person then becomes the leader. This works especially well with four people standing in a diamond shape. Groups can move around the room using this process. The idea is to keep one's group together; we "win" through cooperation.
Have some of the students watch while others participate in these slow movement experiences.
Next, divide the group into pairs. One person is the leader and the other is the follower. Put on slow music to accompany the mirror movement. Switch leaders and try again.
Later, have the partners switch leaders while the music is playing. Use a signal (finger cymbals or a bell, for example) to let them know when to switch leaders. The challenge is to change leaders without others knowing who the leader is. In other words, the new leader picks up right where the previous leader left off.
Flocking is a variation on mirror movement. Have a group of students stand facing all the same direction with one student standing at the front facing the same direction as everyone else. Initiate slow movement with everyone imitating. When the person in front turns ninety degrees to the right or to the left, this places a different person in the front of the group and that person then becomes the leader. This works especially well with four people standing in a diamond shape. Groups can move around the room using this process. The idea is to keep one's group together; we "win" through cooperation.
Have some of the students watch while others participate in these slow movement experiences.