
Let's read, then dance about the story! (Photo from my presentation at Ohioana Book Festival)
CONNIE'S BLOG:
Moving Is Learning!
Connie has been blogging since 2011. Her posts range from tips for teachers, the benefits of dance, playful class plans, to how to choose a creative dance class for your child, and much, much more! All of her posts are below, starting with the most recently-published ones.
Let's read, then dance about the story! (Photo from my presentation at Ohioana Book Festival)
Hold on tight!
Part 1
Hold on Tight, Little Leaf!
You're a leaf in the autumn sun,
Clinging to a branch of a tall oak tree.
Here comes a breeze. Try to hold on!
Swing and twist, but don't let go.
A gust of wind comes along,
You flip and flop, but cling to the branch.
The wind rushes in, the tree sways again,
With a little "ping" you finally let go.
Swirling, twirling, you drift to the ground.
Part 2
Leaf Pile
Run and skip and leap through the leaves!
Clomp and stomp and listen to them crunch.
Hold them in your hand. Smell the dry, earthy scent.
Throw them in the air with your arms reaching high.
Now make a leaf pile, tall and wide.
Grab a rake, and sweep them up.
Gather the leaves in a colorful mound.
Look! Our pile is growing high.
Here comes the best part, ready, set, go!
One by one we run and jump.
High in the air, over the pile.
One more time, we jump right in!
Movement Prompts
Read Part 1 aloud, and then read it again, using the following movement prompts after each line:
Line 1: Imagine you're a leaf. What color are you? What shape?
Line 2: Cling to the branch
Line 3: Hold on tight!
Line 4: Now twist, swing, but don't let go
Line 5: Sway with the breeze
Line 6: Flip, flap, flop while still holding on
Line 7: Sway harder with the big gust of wind
Line 8: You can't hold on. You finally let go!
Line 9: How many ways can you move like a leaf as you slowly float to the ground?
Read Part 2 aloud, and, as above, read it again, using the following movement prompts:
First Stanza:
Line 1: Run, skip, gallop, leap
Line 2: Clomp, stomp, then freeze and listen
Line 3: Imagine you pick up leaves, crunch them and smell the aroma
Line 4: Throw them in the air!
Second Stanza:
Line 1: Walk around in a big circle
Line 2: Imagine you grab a rake and begin to rake up the leaves
Line 3: Continue to rake as you make a big pile
Line 4: Show how high the leaf pile is!
Third Stanza:
Line 1: Imagine you are lining up and crouching down to get ready to run.
Line 2: One by one, run and jump
Line 3: Run and leap into the air, as high as you can
Line 4: Jump high, then fall gently into the pile
To finish the activity, play some upbeat music for the children to dance freely. as they think about their favorite things about the autumn season. At the end of the music, prompt them to fall gently to the floor, like the little leaf in the chant who clung to the branch, then finally let go and drifted to the ground.
An energetic brain break is always a welcome activity in the middle of a busy day. These playful, active, and enriching brain break ideas will be fun for a small or large group of children.
1. Category Caper
Time: 10 minutes
Directions:
This activity can be done in a small space. All of the movements can be performed in place.
Identify 3 categories: i.e., colors, fruits, vegetables.
Then, match an action to each category, i.e. color = jump, fruit = sit, vegetable = run in place.
Name, show a picture, or hold up an object and the children will categorize it.
The children then perform the corresponding action.
*This game should progress quickly, to keep the children moving constantly from sitting to jumping, to running.
2. Time to Rhyme
Time: 10-15 minutes
Directions:
This activity can be done in a small space. All of the movements can be performed in place.
1. Say the following poem line by line, allowing the children to respond in movement to each movement prompt.
I like to march right under the arch.
I like to jump and land with a thump.
I like to learn how to turn.
I like to run – it's so much fun.
I like to hop then quickly stop.
I like to freeze and bend my knees.
2. Repeat the activity, and instead of saying the action word, give the rhyming word and encourage the children to fill in the blank with the appropriate motor skill. For example, say, " I like to _______, and land with a thump." Once the children guess the action word, they respond in movement.
3. Vary this activity for a larger space. Ask the children to think of rhyming words for the following additional motor skills: walk, crawl, slide, gallop, prance
3. My Turn!
Time: 10-15 minutes, depending on the number of children
Materials: Movements written on file cards, one movement per card (enough for one per child, or several per child for a small group).
With the children standing evenly spaced in a circle, say to them: We will go around the circle and each child will have a turn. I am going to choose a card from this stack. When it is your turn, you will do the movement on the card.
Movement suggestions:
Once you have gone around the circle, shuffle the cards and go around again, if the children are still engaged in the activity.
Other suggestions for continuing the activity:
*Ask the children to think of their own movements as you go around again
*Ask the children which one was their favorite movement, and have them all do their favorite movements at the same time
*Continuing with the favorite movement idea, ask them to repeat their favorite movements five times in a row
*Play a lively musical selection, and allow the children to move about in the shared space, trying out many of the movement ideas from the circle.
Keep on Dancing,
Connie
MOVING IS LEARNING!
Playing with netting snowflakes!
Hello, and Happy Winter!
For this blog post, I have assembled a collection of many of my past posts about winter. They are all published in the SCBWI (Society for Children's Book Writers and Editors) 2020 Holiday Activity Guide -- Winter Activities for Grades PreK-Kingergarten, Ages 3-6, where you will find lots of other children's authors' ideas for winter fun.
By clicking this link, you will find the following winter movement activities:
Footprints in the Snow: A Movement Exploration Inspired by Winter
Winter provides endless inspiration for imaginative movement ideas. This activity addresses science, nurtures creativity, and encourages large motor skills practice.
Bird Count Picture Book, with a READ AND DANCE Lesson Plan
Susan Edwards Richmond wrote a beautiful picture book about the Audubon winter bird count, and I have created a playful movement activity about her story.
Snow Day! Indoor Activities to Supplement Outdoor Play
Playful and lively indoor creative movement activities about winter: Draw and Dance, Indoor Snowballs, Dance and Freeze in Snowflake Shapes.
A Winter Dance Story: The Most Perfect Snowman
A dance story about the picture book The Most Perfect Snowman by Chris Britt–a lively activity that's perfect for an interactive winter story time.
Christmas Story and Dance Activity: Sparkle the Snowflake
A lively holiday activity, built around an original story about a valiant little snowflake, with simple instructions for retelling the story through dance and music.
Keep on Dancing,
Connie
Hello!
I was invited by Kids & Company, of Toronto, Canada, to lead a thirty-minute video movement session for young children in May. Kids & Company requested a presentation that would get children up and moving while spending more time indoors during the Covid quarantine.
I thought it would be fun to create a short activity for each letter of the alphabet. I devised 26 movement prompts that children and families can do together. This creative movement session will definitely use a lot of that great kid energy!
Watch the Video Here: DANCE THE ALPHABET!
For more ideas about movement, the alphabet, and early literacy, check out my picture book
From A to Z with Energy! 26 Ways to Move and Play
Keep on Dancing, Everyone!
Connie
Stay connected with family and friends with a virtual dance party! A guest blog post for Redleaf Press, in the time of Covid.