Dancing Words Blog

Magic and Whimsy Series: Snowflakes Fall

"After the flowers are gone

Snowflakes fall.

Flake

After flake

After flake

Each one a pattern

All its own -

No two the same - 

All beautiful."

So begins the new picture book by a stellar duo, author Patricia MacLachlan and illustrator Steven Kellogg. If you are still seeking a magical picture book for a project in the coming weeks in PreK-5 dance classes, check out Snowflakes Fall. 

Whether you use the actual text as a springboard for a dance project, or simply read the book for the start of a idea, Snowflakes Fall will lead you to some great Winter dancing. The words in the book talk about the actions of snow - falling, drifting, and swirling. The book ends talking about the water cycle - snow melting, streams flowing, evaporating, and raining.

The overarching idea of the book expresses the uniqueness of us all. Even in times of sorrow and loss there is still hope. Snowflakes Fall definitely inspires us to find beauty and to find hope. 

 

 

 

Cat and Fish

This week I stumbled upon a quirky picture book, Cat and Fish, by Joan Grant and illustrator Neil Curtis. Use this book as inspiration in preschool, kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade classes.

What I like about the book is the unusual pairing of the characters - a cat and a fish. They come from different worlds but become friends and explore together both the land and sea. From a movement perspective, this book can lead to interesting partner work as well as exploring contrasting ideas - land/ocean, above/below, up/down, swimming/climbing, etc. The actions in the story are also interesting to use for improvisation in a class - playing in a maze, lurking, prowling, hiding, rowing, floating, etc.

 

Verbs

As I was speaking with the librarian at my school today about a new book, I thought that today would be a perfect day to highlight some great books to use in conjunction with teaching VERBS in 1st or 2nd grade classrooms.

These action rich books can introduce students to a wide range of verbs as well as get them up on their feet - improvising, moving in a variety of ways, or making a dance based on a book.

Check out:

1. Move! - Steve Jenkins

2. How to Be a Cat - Nikki McClure

3. Off We Go! - Jane Yolen

4. A Child's Day: An Alphabet of Play - Ida Pearle

5. Alphabet Movers - Theresa Benzwie

6. Into the A, B, Sea - Steve Jenkins and Deborah Rose

7. In the Tall, Tall Grass - Denise Fleming

8. In the Small, Small Pond - Denise Fleming

9. Star Climbing - Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson

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