I Can Dance My Learning

When we think of intellectual activity, we always imagine people sitting still, motionless. But mental development must be connected with movement and be dependent on it.  ~ Maria Montessori

Living Sky School Division received an ArtsSmart grant for dance in Kindergarten called I Can Dance My Learning. Guest dancer, Ashley Johnson is working with six teachers and their students to explore Creative Dance and Brain Dance in the classroom. Check the Early Learning pages for lessons, videos and anchor images to reinforce concepts of dance.

4 shape

Working together to create shapes with our bodies.

buckle my shoe

Developing my body/side capability on the floor. (Brain dance)

cross lateral

Creative dance and floating scarves. Look how well I can move in a cross lateral pattern.

show me the webb

We can web our ideas on paper and show our learning with our bodies.

vestibular

I can move off balance while on my chair and develop my vestibular system.

Pre-K: Dance in a Small World

Ashley Johnson worked with PreK students and teachers to explore ways to dance every day and celebrate movement in learning. Thanks to an ArtsSmart grant (funded through SaskCulture), Living Sky School Division has been able to bring Ashley to work with 10 schools to model lessons, share resources and provide lots of support to our PreK teachers and EA’s. Check our new “Early Learning” page for resources. Thank you to our Early Learning Teachers and EAs who are so willing to dance, explore and play!

Confidence.jpg

CutKnife prek

dancing with scarves

dance UPS prek

Over, under, through

mckitrick

balancing shapes

mckitrick2

dancing in our classroom

 

Dance Across Living Sky

“To understand what I am saying, you have to believe that dance is something other than technique. We forget where the movements come from. They are born from life. ” – Pina Bausch

How do we create dances in the classroom? What does it mean to create dance using an “inquiry” process?

McKitrick

Grade 5 students create dance from poetry

Mckitrick2

Grade 4 students dance with painted feet to poetry.

To examine that question Living Sky is partnering with Dance SK and LIVE Arts to bring three innovative dance programs to classrooms across the province. Arts Educators and dance teachers are collaborating to develop workshops with students for LIVE Arts broadcasts.  Teachers can download the teacher guides and register their classes to watch and participate by going to their website to sign up for FREE.

Join in for LIVE programs:

  • March 6th – broadcast from McKitrick Community School with Grade 4 at 10:50am and Grade 5 at 1:10pm
    Tammy Tropeau (dancer) & Kerri Dakin (teacher)
  • March 20th – broadcast from Unity Comprehensive High School with grade 7 at 10:55am and grade 8 at 1:00pm
    Rae Ann Hydamaka (dancer) and Crystal Gilbert (teacher)
  • April 3 – broadcast from Maymont School with grade 6 at 10:45am and grade 9 at 1:10pm.
    Karla Kloeble (dancer) and Heather Cardin (teacher)

 

mckitrick3

Students created this big idea for their dance inquiry.

Mckitrick4

Dancing is a feeling.

 

 

Can’t make the broadcast? You can also download the teacher guide and watch it archived by going to http://liveartsaskatchewan.com/archive/.  There are many programs available, all grades and all arts disciplines. Enjoy!

Dance is Alive in Living Sky

Inspiring Movement, a two year long exploration into dance and what inspires us to move with joy, curiosity and courage. Ashley Johnson, dancer in residence with Living Sky School Division, has created these resources for educators. All materials created are developed to teach the Saskatchewan Dance Education curriculum outcomes. We welcome you to browse the Lesson Bank, view the videos and find the supports you need to teach dance education. Just keep dancing!

bready gymBready Elementary School

All material created and shared on this blog remains the property of Ashley Johnson but is available for educational sharing through the terms of the residency.

Creative Partnerships is funded by Sask Culture, Sask Arts Board and Living Sky School Division no. 202.  

creative partnership logo