Use percussion instruments to accompany the students. Explore the actions, dynamics, and space concepts which might accompany the sound. For example, a bird twitter might be a shiver of the whole body. Individually or in small groups, have students combine some of the movements explored to create a dance phrase. In the same way, explore one or two other prairie sounds.
Percussion instruments record a sound score to accompany the dance compositions.
Practice the dance compositions with the sound score. In small groups, have the students show their dance compositions accompanied by the sound score, or record the dance compositions on video for later viewing. Have students describe and discuss the dance creations. Discuss how the machine parts might work. Remind students that machine parts work together and that every part is important for the machine to work.