Interdisciplinary Learning through Movement: Making Dance in the Classroom

Accessible, Essential and Fun for your Students and Yourself!

With Julie White

Do you know the benefits of having your students learn by doing and through movement, but you worry about your ability to instruct this type of lesson? Do you have concerns about managing the classroom and gaining (and keeping!) student interest while moving? Do you agree with the idea of incorporating movement into what you do, but don’t know where to begin, what resources to use, or how to create these learning experiences? After this session, you will know how to craft a movement experience in your subject area, you will be given tools to effectively instruct this unique type of class and learning strategy, and you will learn proven teaching approaches, activities and assignments that can easily translate and apply to what you already do in your classroom. You will also experience for yourself how movement creates connection – to others, oneself, and the material at hand – and elicits a positive response that makes learning meaningful and memorable. The best teachers are ongoing and willing learners themselves. Join me and see for yourself how dance can transform how you and your students work together to learn.

1. Introductions: the “Name Game” circle

2.Overview of the Class: sharing dance experiences and educational curiosities

3.The” Basics” & Proven Effective Strategies for Directing a Dance Experience

  • The real and broad benefits of kinesthetic learning in the classroom
  • Comprehension and Retention
  • Student (intrinsic) Motivation & Investment in Learning
  • Discovery-based & Collaborative Learning
  • Problem Solving and Thinking Creatively
  • Self-expression and Addressing the Whole Child
  • Release of Energy, Relaxation, Focus, Stress Relief
  • Student Enjoyment, the “Joy Factor”
  • The power of demonstration and modeling
  • Do What I Do as well as What I Say (being the brave student!)
  • Walking Around Outside the Comfort Zone (where learning happens)
  • Teacher and student centered approaches
  • Activity: Mirroring (Learning to Follow & Lead Others)
  • Learning formations
  • Facings: front, each other, sides of the room, back
  • Personal and General Space (Locomotor vs. Non-Locomotor)
  • Diagonals and Across the Floor
  • Partners, Small Groups, Half the Class (Audience & Performer)
  • Signals and cues
  • Call and response (the drum)
  • Follow the Leader
  • Dance Freeze!
  • Dance vocabulary lists and basic terms: A Basic Action Dance!

4.Connecting Dance & General K-12 Curriculum

  • Dance Education Standards: The National Standards & the Mississippi Framework
  • National Standards for Physical Education, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science,Music, Theatre & Visual Arts: An Overview
  • A Sample 2nd grade Math Lesson Plan (The Fact Family): on paper and in the body!
  • Small groups: Brainstorming Dance Experiences for Assigned Subject Areas
  • Presentations & Discussions of Ideas!

5.Additional Purposes & Fantastic Uses of Dance in the Classroom

  • Focus & Readiness for Learning: Anne Green Gilbert’s “BrainDance”
  • Relaxation & Stress Relief: Constructive Rest & Simple Breathing & Stretching
  • Trust Building & Non-Verbal Communication Skills: Weight Sharing
  • Appreciation & Knowledge of Diverse Perspectives: Non-Traditional Dance Forms…

A Trip to Peru!

  • Reach All Types of Learners: Verbal, Auditory & Kinesthetic! (The Bone Dance)
  • Self-Expression: How Are You Feeling? (Dancing your Thoughts & Emotions)

6.Resources

  • List of Websites for Interdisciplinary Lesson Planning, Instruction, Assessment
  • List of Music and Book Resources for Interdisciplinary Dance Classes
  • Model: PreK Master Unit

7.The Perceived Challenges

  • No Dance Training: Two Left Feet!
  • A Room Full of Desks!
  • No Time in the Day (Meeting those Testing Standards)!
  • The “Not Cool Factor” with Students (You and Dance or Both!)
  • Too Much Work!!!

8.Questions/Reflection: What Did You Enjoy the Most Today? What was your Biggest Challenge? What Do You Want to Work on from Here? Are You a Believer?