Connie Bergstein Dow, Dance, Turn, Hop, Learn - Enriching movement activities for preschoolers
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education of young children Return to HOME |
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Dance Starters for Young Children |
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Just about anything can be an impetus for children to move and dance, creating a learning experience as well as fun, physical activity. Here are some ideas to stimulate the children's imaginations, which will be demonstrated during the Friday workshop session:
Greetings and Hello Games Examples: 1. Start their day with a game about fidgeting, as they are probably fidgeting from the moment they walk into the room!
2. "Let's wave to each other with our hands. What other parts of your body can you use to wave? How many different ways can we think of to say hello with our bodies?"
Circle Time Movement Games
Example: "Let’s say and clap the rhythm of each person's name. Let's go around the circle again and clap the rhythm with no voices. We will do it again making the rhythm with our feet. Now we will stand up, go around again, and make it with our feet while we are standing, and move our bodies in place while our feet make the rhythms." (Add music, or repeat the rhythm phrase, as you have made a dance!)
Stories, Books, Poems
Movement images abound in children's literature. Pick out several movement ideas from a story, and prompt the children to "dance" the story.
Music: Songs and Instrumentals
Children respond naturally with movement to music they enjoy. Zak Morgan will play his award-winning music live at the workshop session.
Themes
Pick up on your daily and weekly themes, and add movement to any subject you are teaching, addressing Early Learning Content Standards as well. Example: To pick up on the theme of spring, prompt children to "dance" the making of a garden: dig the holes, plant the seeds, water and weed, watch plants grow, and finally harvest the vegetables or flowers. Some fun accompaniments to this activity would be reading "The Carrot Seed" by Ruth Krauss, and playing the Raffi song "In My Garden."
Transitions
Example: "Today we are going to think about how different animals move. I want you to think of your favorite animal, and one by one I am going to ask you what the animal is, and ask you to move like that animal as you go to your cubby to get ready to go outside." Use cues for signaling the start and stop for each child's movement. For the next several days, continue this activity when it is time for a transition. Consider narrowing the choices, such as making each day a different category: animals that fly, animals that swim, animals that live in cold places, etc.
Props: Examples: scarves, streamers, shakers, costumes, small musical instruments, stop light signals, stop sign, small flashlights or fiber optic lights, drawings about a theme that the children create and then dance, small stuffed animals, pom poms, hats and other items that the children can make themselves also, |
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A Taste of Music, a Dash of Dance: Spice Up Your Early Childhood Environment with Music and Movement Activities- OAEYC 2009 Connie Bergstein Dow and Zak Morgan, Copyright 2009, Connie Bergstein Dow |
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Also By the Author Why Art is important in Education
Just Add Movement: Five Activities That Can Turn Squirming into Learning
About Art and Children (Cincinnati Enquirer, Dec '06)
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