Step 1:
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I include a movement element in nearly every music class I teach, so to begin this project, I asked my students what they thought were the pros and cons of dancing in music class. The responses were similar across grade levels. Students were quick to recognize the health benefits of dance, such as the exercise it provided and the energy it gave them. Students mentioned that dancing with everyone together made them feel good and made them happy. When asked how dancing would help them learn music, nearly all students mentioned that it reinforced a sense of steady beat for them (rhythm concept) and helped them listen to the music so they would know when a musical section started and when it ended (listening skills and form, melody and expression concepts).
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Music Literacy: the ability to read, write and play music, as well as the development of an understanding of cultural practice and historical and social contexts. |
Step 2:
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After collecting students' responses, I first researched the origin and purpose of folk dancing. This gave me a lot of insight into the social and emotional well-being that folk dancing can provide.
I also researched the benefits of folk dancing at the elementary level in regards to physical literacy. My TM helped me understand the milestones students must reach in movement to be able to journey from independent movement to participating in collaborative dances. Teaching movement to a series of grade levels and observing the others also helped me understand the sequence of teaching movement from Kindergarten to Grade 5. My assessment of movement was largely through observation and questioning. I would use these strategies to gauge how my students were acquiring the skills and grasping the concepts related to folk dancing in the Program of Studies for Elementary Music. |
Step 3:
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Lastly, I organized all my information in a way that would clearly show the benefits of folk dancing in regards to music literacy development, physical literacy development, social and emotional well-being and development, and physical well-being. I got permission to film one of my Grade 4 classes performing a folk dance I taught them, which was featured in my presentation of my project at the annual symposium.
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Social-emotional well-being: the ability to acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions. (CASEL). |
Physical literacy: the ability to move with competence and confidence, benefiting the healthy development of the whole person. At the elementary level, focus should be increased on fundamental movement skills which include body management, locomotor, and object control skills. |