Do the Science Samba: Integrating the Grade 6 Dance and Science Curriculum

“World of Dances.” Location: Yale University. Dancer: Lea Winter Photographer: Kike Calvo. National Geographic

Science is a subject that should have students doing hands-on experiments, collaborative inquiry, and lots of fun discussion. There’s a time and place for reading the textbook for foundation building but it should not be the only thing you’re doing. What better way to get students up, working in groups, and laughing than through doing some Science and Dance activities?

Explore Movement and Nature with a Grade 3 Four Seasons Dance Unit

“The Masque of the Four Seasons” Walter Crane

Dance can be a fun and freeing way for students communicate their ideas and feelings. I’ve created a short unit for a grade 3 class that is very easy to do because it deals with a topic that every student should know something about: the seasons! Students have to go outside every day, so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be able to take what they know about how nature changes throughout the year and put it into a movement piece.

Nonsense Word Scenes Make for a Fun Drama Class

 

Learning lines is overrated. I think it’s time to get silly!

I have a super simple and pedagogically effective activity here that can be done with students of most ages and abilities. 

Body Talks: Telling Movement Stories in Dance Class

I’ve started taking a course at Brock University about teaching the Dance curriculum, and I am so excited! Dance was not part of the Ontario curriculum when I was in school; it was at the discretion of the teacher whether it was taught. I vaguely remember doing line dancing in elementary school at some point and I vividly remember doing the Hustle in grade 7. I still remember the terrible haircut of the guy in the Hustle instructional video (unfortunately I do not remember the Hustle or I would film myself busting a move and post it for your viewing pleasure).

Try the Mannequin Challenge with your Drama Class!

Being deliberate in your body movement and placement is essential for Drama. No Drama class is quite complete without devoting time to students creating tableaus (a group of motionless actors depicting a scene) because it helps students concentrate on having control of their body position on stage without also worrying about memorizing lines or cues.

However, many students find tableaus boring or have difficulty creating a scene that is interesting and important to them. What’s worse, sometimes when you’re attempting to assess a tableau, you’re not even entirely sure what the tableau scene is supposed to be because students are still developing their craft. My solution? The Mannequin Challenge.