Ice Breaking with Head (Shoulders, Knees, & Toes)

Joe Seoul, Korea Students are shy whenever there is a new teacher. But when after a couple of lessons they don't respond to questions, that is unacceptable in a learning environment. So, "Everybody UP!!" Then we do the song, "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes..." (If you don't know the song and the actions, just ask a native English speaker. Most of them did it during childhood.) EVERYBODY has to perform all of the actions. If even one person doesn't touch the toes, we stop right there and start over. Then we speed it up, and of course, it becomes silly. Also, if one student consistently doesn't participate, that student gets to do it in front of all of the class. I always perform the routine along with the student, too, so that the student has company while the other students laugh. This system is an ice breaker, a discipline tool, and a way for the students to realize the teacher likes to have fun, too.

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