Expressing Without Words

The children watched a famous mime actor, Marcel Marceau, perform 

"The Lion Tamer" using only facial expression and body language to tell a story.

A game of expression bingo provided an opportunity to identify feelings expressed and also to notice the subtle differences in a persons face that can completely change the feeling of their expression. 

The game required careful observation.

Careful observation

The children are very familiar with John Birmingham's story "Mr. Gumpy's Outing"

They chose which character they wanted to be and which naughty action they would do that would help cause the boat to tip over and performed the story with only a few words from the narrator (me). Our volunteer, Sunny, was Mr. Gumpy. The children were challenged to express the message "May I come too?" with only facial and gesture expression. They loved it! Simone suggested we perform it for the other children and all agreed. Afterwards at lunch I heard Esme invite Sofia "Would you like to come to my house and we won't use any words?"
The girls used gestures to communicate the invitation.

"May I come?"

"May I come?"

"Yes, but don't wiggle!"