Assignments

=Here are some activities for teachers who aren't trained dancers. It's easy to incorporate creative movement and song into lessons!= =1. Reflect on dance. Go to the Blog page and view the video. Post a comment. You need to open a Google account in order to do this, but if you have gmail, you already have one.=

=2. Start a teaching movement in your comfort zone. Pick an activity that is familiar, and do it at circle time. Here are a few suggestions:=


 * =Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes=
 * =Do the Hokey Pokey=
 * =Freeze Dance=

=3. Pantomime Game: The Invisible Present.=


 * =Have children sit cross-legged in a circle on the rug.=
 * =Pretend to receive an invisible box for your Birthday.=
 * =Model opening it up and take out an object. The children have to guess what it is, based on the clues you "mime." For instance, if the gift is a hat, mime putting it on your head.=
 * =When a child in the circle guesses right, they get passed the imaginary box, and it's their turn to open it.=
 * =Make sure every child gets a turn.=

=4. Move to the drum:=


 * =In a large space, have the children follow the drum beats you make.=
 * =Stand in the center of the floor, and children move in one direction. This prevents collisions as they circle around you.=
 * =Try walking, tip-toeing, skipping, galloping, running, robots, driving cars, bunny hopping.=
 * =Change as needed to suit your class.=

=5. Skating Party:=


 * =Download the "Peanuts" Skating Song.=
 * =Have the class take off their shoes so that they can slip around on the gym floor.=
 * =Pretend to "lace up" invisible skates.=
 * =Turn on the music and join group, modeling skating movements.=
 * =No running on the ice!=
 * =I like to pretend there is an imaginary hot chocolate stand, where I serve cups to tired skaters. Pretend anything that you like.=

=6. "Saying Please" Preschool Lesson:=

=Class will watch the video with Bill Harley's story "You're not the boss of me," and each child will make up a dance to the little song in the video.The class should sit on a rug in a circle, singing the song for each dancer and keeping time by clapping hands.=

=Lesson Goals:=

=This age group often wonders why they have to do what their elders tell them, so they will enjoy the story of a little skunk who gets brought before the King for refusing to set the dinner table. Incorporating movement into the lesson will give students an opportunity to be creative and active. Each child is also learning to take turns and be a good audience. This builds the classroom community. The lyrics are:=
 * =You're not the boss of me=
 * =You're not the boss of me=
 * =You might be the boss of you=
 * =But not the boss of me=

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