Week 14, Dance.

Dance Workshop

This was our last class for our whole Creative Arts stream. I think I learnt the most useful teaching tips and strategies in this workshop. Working with stimuli.

Sometimes I think that myself as a teacher will constantly think about the importance of scaffolding and 'overdo it'. What I mean by this is that I will explain and describe a task within the Creative Arts lessons to an extent where the children will forget about their own, unique, creative creations and  will just follow and do what they 'think' I want them to do rather than express what they really want to do. I found that using a stimuli would be a great resource.

There were many stimuli including a photograph, a hidden object and a sculpture like model. I found that all three stimuli were an excellent springboard resource to base a sequence of lessons. However, I found that the hidden object was one I could and would definitely use in my lesson. Hidden object: Hide an object in a bag, ask students to feel the object and without having an actual visual stimulus, use the other senses, especially touch to represent the object. I feel that the students in any class would love this activity.

The structure of the lesson was the same for all groups with different stimuli. We had to

1. Create a dance routine using the stimuli as a springboard. 
2. Decide on a title, what we were representing and the music we wanted to use. 

Of course, due to the nature of our lessons, we were pushed for time and had to create movements within ten minutes, however in a real classroom, students will require more time and a flexible, creative activity like this could be extended into two lessons. 

Overall, the dance workshops have been very useful and engaging. Especially as I had no proper experience with dance, I was worried as to how I would teach it. I've learnt so much in these dance workshops and now, am quite eager to get an opportunity to 'try out' these teaching strategies!