1. Guiding Movement Experiences

2. What Is Creative Movement?
It is communication through movement.
Children move much better than they speak.
It is movement in which the statement is more important than the technique.
It is the language of expression using the body.
It is a form of informal, structured play that is a process, not a product.

3. What Are The Benefits Of Creative Movement?
It simultaneously involves the inner being and the physical body.
It teaches body awareness, and what their body can do.
Develops coordination & control of movement.
It is a discipline for dealing with self-image, self-awareness, and self-control.
It fosters the expressive capacities and imagination.
It stimulates creative and critical thinking.

4. Dance Concepts: SPACE: Place Size Level Direction Pathway Focus
Self space/general space
Big/small, far reach/near reach
High/low
Forward/backward, right/left, up/down
Curved, straight, zigzag
Single focus, multi focus

5. TIME: FORCE: Speed (fast slow), rhythm (pulse, pattern)
Energy (sudden/sustained)
Weight (strong/light)
Flow (free/bound)

6. BODY: MOVEMENT: Parts Shapes Relationships Balance Walk, run jump
Bend, twist, stretch

7. Guidance For Creative Movement:
Children love the familiar & repetition.
Don’t show them how. It restricts creativity.
Have lots of room, bare feet.
Say, “Use your whole self”, “Move how it sounds or makes you feel”, “Can you ? Follow me!”
Encourage each child to do it in a different way.

8. Materials: Records Tape recordings Piano Stories Instruments
Rhythm sticks
Tambourines
Bells
Triangles
Water glasses filled
Autoharp

9. Teach them how to stop when the music stops:
Emphasize that to stop means not to move at all – not a muscle or a bone!
Encourage children to listen carefully or else they won’t know when to stop.
Make a shape with your body when you stop.

10. Elements Of Music: RHYTHM Clap, clap different sequences TEMPO
How fast & slow
MELODY
Move hand up and down with notes
TONE
Sounds of different instruments, identify by sound only
DYNAMICS
Soft, loud
HARMONY
Identify notes that don’t sound right

11. Teach about personal space:
Blow bubbles and them have them imagine a bubble around their body.
Each bubble should be as wide as their. outstretched arms and as tall as they are.
Place children far enough apart so that no one is touching their bubble.
Ask one child to move among the children, being careful not to break or touch anyone’s bubble.
Add more children until all children are moving and no one is breaking anyone else’s bubble.

12. Ideas For Physical Time:
Duck, Duck, Goose
Red Light, Green Light
Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes
Hokey Pokey
Ribbon Dancing
Exercise
Musical Instruments
Parachute
Mexican, Hawaiian Music
Act like the picture of an animal

13. Creative Transitions:
Smooth movement from one activity to another.
Eliminates disruptive behavior which is common between activities.
Give children warning that transition is coming.
Allow children extra time to complete projects but start next activity as soon as some children are ready, the others will soon become interested.

14. Ideas For Transitions:
Hair, eye, and clothing color
Type of shoes
Family members
What they had for breakfast
Favorite food
Pets they have
Halloween costume
Nametag

15. Teaching Movement Questions
You are going to teach children to clap with their hands. How can you do this?
Demonstrate how to clap by holding up one palm steadily. Refer to this palm as the instrument. The other hand should serve as the mallet. Clap with relaxed arms and wrists and shoulders out.

16. Teaching Movement Questions
You are assigned to teach a movement activity. How can you prepare for this?
Stand in front of a full-length mirror and practice the movements.

17. Teaching Movement Questions
One of the first movement activities should focus on listening. What type of beat should you provide for two-year-olds?
A steady beat should be provided for two-year-olds.

18. Teaching Movement Questions
Space awareness is part of a preschool curriculum. How can you teach this concept?
First, have the children sit in front of you. Then make sure there is enough space between each child so movements can be made freely. Stress instructions with actions.