Warm-Up Activity: Down

Dance-based warm-up: called "Down."

• To play "Down," have your group assembled in a large circle
• Take turns--or, collectively as a group, you're going to sing this song:

•    “D-O-W-N. That's the way we get down. Uh-huh. D-O-W-N. That's the way we get down. Uh-huh.”

• At that point in time then, whoever in the circle has the focus is going to ask another person this following sequence of interactions:

Person 1: Hey, Andrea.
Person 2: Hey, what?
Person 1: Hey, Andrea.
Person 2: Hey, what?
Person 1: Show me how you get down.
Person 2: No way.
Person 1: Show me how you get down.
Person 2: Ok.
ALL: D-O-W-N. That's the way we get down. Uh-huh. D-O-W-N. That's the way we get down. Uh-huh.
Person 2: Hey, Melissa.
Person 3: Hey, what?
Person 2: Hey, Melissa.
Person 3: Hey, what?
Person 2: Show me how you get down.
Person 3: No way.
Person 2: Show me how you get down.
Person 3: Ok.
ALL: D-O-W-N. That's the way we get down. Uh-huh. D-O-W-N. That's the way we get down.

And the energy just gets passed around the circle. Everyone dances and has a good time, gets loosened up. And that's how you play "Down."

Lesson Plan: Writing Prompt

This is a lesson plan for highschool students, to be used as a writing prompt....

The Fame GaME

Many people thrive on the celebrity culture and the hopes that they can one day make it into the tabloids with fame and fortune at their beckon call. Many celebrities are even considered to be role models for young adults. Should they be? What makes a good celebrity role model? As aspiring actors, some of you might be the next generation of celebrities! How would you use your fame for good?

Writing Prompts…

Would you rather be famous for your talent or for a tabloid scandal?

How are you a celebrity in your own world? Is it “cooler” to be an individual or to model yourself after a trendy celebrity? What are celebrity trends that you just DON’T get?

How do celebrities affect your body image? Do you think they know? Do you think they care?

Has your opinion of one of your celebrity role models been changed based on their bad behavior? Think about Tiger Woods, or Lindsay Lohan. What would you say in a letter to them? No holding back!

What bad manners or behaviors do celebrities “get away with”? How would your relatives, teachers, or ‘authority figures’ react if you displayed those same behaviors?

Discuss a negative influence that a celebrity has had on your life or the lives of your friends.

Why do celebrity deaths deeply affect so many people? Think about recent celebrity deaths that might have been avoided: Michael Jackson, DJ AM, Britney Murphy, Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole Smith, etc. etc. etc.

Celebrities normally get paid many times the amount that firefighters, teachers and policemen earn.  Do you think celebrities make more money than they deserve?

Use a celebrity “catch phrase” as a hook, perhaps in opposition to how the phrase was intended. For example: “Celebrity DUI’s – not hot. Using your fame to raise money for Haiti? That’s hot.”

Does Fame bring happiness?

Dear _____________ you are NOT my role model….

If I was famous…..