Today I would like to share two books that work nicely with a prop - ribbons.
I have done these lessons with students in preschool, kindergarten, and first grades. My students have always loved lessons with props - ribbons, hula hoops, fabric, elastic loops, and such.

A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman is an older book, but still holds its magic. I first heard of this book while co-facilitating a workshop many years ago with Carol Flanagan at Saint Mary's College. In the story, a little boy imagines playing with a rainbow. In my preschool classes, I have first read this book, and then provided the students with silk ribbons in rainbow colors, about 1.5 yards long. (I purchased this beautiful ribbon at Stonemountain and Daughter in Berkeley, CA. You can also purchase individual ribbons on sticks through many catalogues, including Nova Natural.) With the students, they can improvise and play with the rainbows or you can create a dance together as a class - deciding how the rainbow moves (over, under, around, through, etc).

The Squiggle by author Carole Lexa Schaefer and illustrator Pierr Morgan is also a playful book to inspire ribbon dances. In the squiggle, a red string/ribbon becomes many things in a child's imagination. I love to read this to students and then create a dance together, where each student contributes one idea for the dance. Our red ribbons can be snakes, ocean waves, rainbows, and much more. I have used a variety of red ribbons over the years, but in particular love organdy ribbon. I purchased mine at Stonemountain and Daughter in Berkeley,CA, and here is a link to purchase some on the internet.