- Hello, everyone.

My name is Caitlyn McCain and I'm a teaching artist with New York City Children's Theater.

Today we're going to use our voices, bodies and imaginations to do a theater activity together.

Are you ready?

Let's go.

Have you ever seen a flower before?

What did it look like?

Maybe it had a green stem like this and bright colored petals like this, and maybe even some leaves like this.

So now you know what a flower looks like, but have you ever asked a flower how it's feeling?

Today we're going to explore different types of flowers and imagine how they might be feeling using our body, voice and imagination.

Let's get started.

Let's look closer at this flower.

What color is this flower?

That's right, yellow.

I wonder how this yellow flower is feeling.

I see, this flower is yellow and it has lots of small, thin petals that look like they're full of energy.

So maybe this flower is feeling excited because it's the first day of summer.

What does your body look like when it's feeling excited?

My body looks like this when it's feeling excited.

Now, what if this flower could move based on how it's feeling?

If the flower is feeling excited, how might this flower move?

Maybe it would reach its petals up towards the sky like this.

Can you show me how your excited yellow flower moves?

Awesome.

Okay, one more step.

Now that our flowers are feeling and moving, can you imagine what sound this excited flower might make to match its feeling?

Maybe the excited flower is giggling with excitement because the sun is tickling its leaves.

Can you make that sound with me?

[giggles] What sound does your excited flower make?

Will you show me?

Wonderful.

You can make your sounds with your voice or another part of your body too.

Nice.

Last but not least, let's turn our feeling flowers into a garden of feeling flowers.

On the count of three, I want us all to do our excited yellow flower moves and make our excited yellow flower sounds together just like a patch of flowers in the garden.

Ready?

One, two, three, action.

[giggling] One more time.

[giggling] Wonderful.

All right, now let's explore a different flower.

What color is this flower?

That's right, orange.

How do you think this flower might be feeling?

I noticed that this flower is all alone and it's closed up because it hasn't bloomed yet like it's friends.

So maybe it's feeling a little lonely.

Can you show me what your body looks like when it's feeling lonely like this flower?

My body looks like this when it's feeling lonely.

If this flower is feeling lonely, how might this flower move?

Maybe this lonely flower would sway side to side looking for a blossoming flower friend.

Can you show me with your body how this orange, lonely flower might move?

And now, can you add a lonely sound to your flower?

Maybe sigh like this.

What sound does your lonely orange flower make?

Okay, it's time to turn our feeling flowers into a garden.

On the count of three, I want us all to do our lonely flower moves and make our lonely flower sounds together just like a patch of flowers in the garden, ready?

One, two, three, action.

[Caitlyn sighs] Nice work.

Okay, let's explore one more flower together.

What color is this flower?

I see a white flower with pink edges.

This flower has a feeling.

How do you think this flower might be feeling?

Well, this flower is bright and its details are soft and relaxed.

Like it's had a wonderful day in the sun.

So maybe this flower is feeling peaceful.

My body looks like [sighs] this when it's feeling peaceful.

Can you show me what your body looks like when you are feeling peaceful?

Like this pink and white flower?

If this flower is feeling peaceful, how might the flower move?

Maybe this peaceful white and pink flower would reach up and down like it's taking a deep breath after having a beautiful day outside in the sun, can you show me how your peaceful white and pink flower moves?

Lovely.

And now, can you add a peaceful sound to your flower move?

Maybe a hum like this.

[Caitlyn humming] Okay, it's time to turn our feeling flowers into a garden.

On the count of three, I want us all to do our peaceful flower moves and make our peaceful flower sounds together just like a patch of flowers in the garden, ready?

One, two, three, action.

And freeze.

Wow, who knew flowers could feel so many different feelings?

I know I feel a lot of different feelings too.

Hey, how are you feeling right now after exploring flowers and feelings together?

Can you show me how you're feeling right now with your body?

Ready?

One, two, three, show me.

Ooh, I see lots of different feelings, like excited, happy, energetic and even sleepy.

There are so many different feelings and emotions that we can feel, and it can be fun to explore those feelings with our bodies and our voices.

Thank you for sharing your feelings with me today.

The next time you're outside and see a flower, remember to ask, how are you feeling?

You can do this activity anywhere with any flower, and you might just discover some brand new feelings.

On behalf of everyone at New York City Children's Theater, thank you so much for playing and imagining with me today.

Goodbye.