Small

Start in a small shape, then move in small ways: small shoulder movements, small arm movements, small hand movement, and so on.

Alive

Staying in one spot, do big axial movements: big arms, circling torso, turns, deep knee bends, twisting, stretching, and such.

Everywhere

Run anywhere for counts one, two, three, four; freeze for counts five, six, seven, eight. Repeat three times. (During the freezes, create shapes that are stuck to the walls, on the floors, facing upward, on a variety of levels, connected to other people, and so on.) 

Simple

Move only the head very slowly from one direction to another. 

Replicate

Call out one student’s name. Have that student run to the center of the room and create a shape, then cue another student to run into the center and connect to the other student already there. Continue in a variety of shapes on different levels.

Copy

Have the students grab a partner’s hand and pull him or her out of the previous group of students. Together, have them create a huddle, then break apart and create individual shapes. Repeat: huddle, then break apart.

Spherical

Create circles of all kinds: circle shapes, circling arms, circling heads, circling floor patterns, circling air patterns, and so on.

Rod

Create several long straight shapes: on the ground, with just arms, with the whole body, with just legs, or other possible ways. 

Spiral

Do spiraling and twisting movements for counts one, two, three, four, and hold a spiraled shape for counts five, six, seven, eight. Repeat three times.

Help

Have the students take a partner’s hand and “help” him or her travel around the negative space of the ribbons, over the exercise balls, and over and around the noodles. 

Hinder

Stop suddenly and do staccato movement with arms, legs, torso, behind yourself, and so on.

Break Down

Do lots of little collapses until you reach the floor. Start high, collapsing your head, then shoulder, torso, hips, and knees and end on the ground. Repeat the movement sequences above again, this time saying the key words as you dance each. Continue to guide the students through the same dance, but emphasize the key words. At the end, ask the students if they can guess what they are dancing about.

Small

Bacteria are so small, you can only see them through a microscope.

Alive

Bacteria are alive. Yes, all bacteria are living!

Everywhere

Bacteria are found everywhere: in soil, in the bread we eat, in humans, in snow, on rocks. Everywhere. There are approximately 10 times as many bacterial cells as there are human cells in the body.

Simple

Bacteria are made up of simple cells that fall under the heading prokaryotic; therefore, they do not have an organized nucleus—or the brain of a cell.

Replicate

Bacteria love to replicate, which is their whole purpose in life.

Copy

One bacterium cell can divide and create two cells.

Spherical

Bacteria come in three different types of shapes. One shape is spherical, like a ball.

Rod

Another bacteria shape is a rod shape, or bacilli. It looks like a gummy worm.

Spiral

Bacteria are found in spiral shapes like spiral noodles.

Help

Bacteria can be very helpful. they help plants absorb nitrogen and help humans use the nutrients in food. Scientists use good bacteria to produce medicines and vaccines.

Hinder

However, some bacteria can be very harmful, causing sore throats, ear infections, cavities, and even pneumonia.

Break Down

Bacteria help to break down the food you eat.

Spherical Pairs

Put two exercise balls together, sit, and bounce on them. (If using smaller balls, just create shapes while holding the balls together as partners.)

Spherical Singles

Separate from the partnership, then sit and bounce on the balls. (Again, with small balls, just make a shape holding the ball.)

Spherical Clusters

Put the balls together in one to three large clusters and sit and bounce on them, or create a shape with them.

Bacillus Pairs

Put two swimming noodles together at the ends, forming a line.

Bacillus Singles

Hold up each swimming noodle without touching another swimming noodle.

Bacillus Chains

Create long chains by connecting several (or possibly all) of the noodles.

Flagellated Bacilli

Put the end of the ribbon in the noodle and sway the ribbon while dancing and holding the noodle.

Spiral Borrelia

Dance with the ribbon and have the ribbon create random S types of swirls.

Spiral Treponema

Move the ribbon up and down in a curved zigzag fashion.

Spiral Spirilla

Whip the ribbon high, then create an S curve and whip it low.