Dan
Let’s try
ce conti
.
.
.
nued
If you are new to involving children in dance it can seem rather daunting, so start very simply with something you are
familiar and comfortable with; there is no need to launch straight into ‘free’ dance.
Please only use music – don’t put up ‘dance’ videos on your interactive boards – children will either stand still and
watch or try to copy exactly what is on the screen, which will stop any creativity in its tracks.
Wheels on the Bus
You all know this song and your children will probably all know this song and the actions you normally use. So sit
them in a circle to talk to them at the beginning of the session – ask them whether their bus will have ‘big wheels’ –
model very big circles with your arms or ‘normal wheels’ model the action you normally do or ‘tiny wheel’s, model
tiny circles. Now, allow the children to try out these actions. Then ask about the wipers on the bus – How might the
wipers move if they were giant wipers or tiny wipers? Get children to step into the middle of the circle and show their
friends their actions.
Suggest to them that you are going to have some new things that happen on this bus
‘Children on the bus are very naughty’ always seems to spark their creative side.
‘Mummies on the bus have heavy bags’
‘Dogs on the bus all wag their tails’
‘Grandpas on the bus fall fast asleep’
etc, etc – get creative!
Once the children have some ideas in their heads put on the music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcQBVkRwPq8 is an instrumental version so you can talk or sing over the music
to prompt the children. There are lots of other instrumental versions to choose from
Once you have tried the dance a couple of times, sit half of the group down so they can watch the other half
‘perform’. Don’t forget to clap. Ask children which movements they liked. Watch the other half. Then allow everyone
a final turn where they might want to try out some ideas that they saw their friends doing.
Next time I will look at some very simple ideas for dance drama.
Have fun on your bus!