Dancing Words Blog

Volcano Wakes Up!

Volcanoes move and dance. We too can take inspiration from their movement - brewing, exploding, pouring, oozing, and spreading. Explore this concept with students in 1st-4th grades.

I love the book Volcano Wakes Up! by Lisa Westberg Peters and illustrator Steve Jenkins. Through a series of poems, a story of a brewing volcano is shared. Through five different perspectives - such as a cricket nearby and the sun and  moon - you learn about a Hawaiian volcano. 

I suggest reading the whole book to your group. This can become your research and brainstorming. Write down words and images that come to mind. In small groups, can your students list 6-8 ideas from the book and make a vignette based on it? How can the students explore dynamic qualities, pathway, direction, and tempo? Or, take some of the short poems from the book, divide into groups, and create vignettes based on the poems. 

You could also select several of the illustrations, in the same manner (about 6-8), to create a movement phrase. There is lots of potential within this single book.

Have fun!

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The Stars are Waiting

While the book The Stars are Waiting is about 15 years old, the story is new inspiration to me. I recently stumbled upon it at the library. The text will inspire an improvisation or a dance project with students ranging in age from preschool through 2nd grade. I think the text beautifully pairs with exploring stopping and moving - dancing and freezing - with young students. It also lends itself to exploring shape, pathway, and entrances/exits.

Over the hill, behind the moon, the stars are waiting...

Waiting for wrens to quietly gather,

Waiting for squirrels to cease their chatter. 

Waiting for sparrows to end their flight,

Waiting for day to fade to night.

I feel that you could easily use the entire text for a project. Use the text to inspire solos, small group sections, or whole group dancing. The Stars are Waiting is being added to my list of "magic and whimsy" books to use with students in Prek-5. 

The Stars are Waiting is by Marjorie Dennis Murray with illustrations by Jacqueline Rogers. Purchase a used copy here.

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