Silence Game

The Silence Game is a wonderful way to help students learn focus and concentration through a classroom group activity.

Children should be settled into their routines
Children should display general body control.
- Ability to walk without bumping into people or things.
- Ability to sit still.
- Ability to sit quietly.
- Ability to follow directions.
The children should have had previous experiences in silence. (When silence occurs in the classroom, point it out.)

Language

Picking up
Relaxing or reclining on floor or rug.
Sitting on the floor or rug.
Sitting on a chair.
Walking on tiptoe when name is called.
Carrying out whispered commands.
Listening for soft sounds.
Listening for soft music.
Thinking.
Writing “silence” on a board and waiting until all children respond.
Letting children write “silence”
Have the children lie down and get comfortable. Tell them, “As soon as I see you move, I am going to tap you on your head.”
Playing “Statues” on playground.
Using something to make children freeze.
- Ring a bell – This requires more skill in bodily control than “silence” from a relaxed position.
For calming children after recess or lunch:
- Bring children to the line count slowly in a foreign language.
For older children: have them lie on the floor and relax completely so that the directress can come by and lift up any part of their bodies, only to have that part flop down.