Week 9: Early Childhood Dance and Drama

03/09/2018

During this week, we focus on dance and drama in Early Childhood. We talked about different kind of musical elements, dance elements and drama elements.

The importance of dance and drama:-

Dance class can enhance:

• ·         Physical Development
• ·         Social Awareness
• ·         Cognitive Development
• ·         Emotional Maturity
• ·         Release and channel energy into creative and productive directions
• ·         Express emotions
• ·         Gain self- confidence
• ·         Learn new words and concepts

Drama play can enhance:

• ·         Language development
• ·         Use of symbols
• ·         Sort out fantasy and reality
• ·         Use of social interaction skills
• ·         And when children participate in the dramatic play they feel powerful and have a sense of relief from emotional tension

Music and Dance activities:

1. Responding to music:

• ·         ♪Crazy Walk ♪
• ·         ♪Dance and Fall Down ♪
• ·         ♪Let’s Pretend ♪

    With these music playing in the background we walked around the room, and fell on the ground each time the music stops.

2. To make a body shapes of:

• ·          High shape
• ·          Low shape
• ·          Round shape
• ·          Sharp shape
• ·          Lumpy Shape
• ·          Flat Shape

We respond to music by moving along with the beat and rhythm. When Tehereh called out any movement she would like us to make we’d quickly try and perform it.

3. Follow the Leader

We didn’t do much on this activity, however, we’ve talked about it briefly. We’ve also talked about

how we could incorporate this kind of activity in the Early Childhood teaching.

Other activity:

We read the texts and prepare an activity based on the reading. With our team, we did a poster.

 

Reflection:

By the end of this lesson, I started recognised the significance of dance, music, drama in the aspect of Early Childhood and Primary Education teaching and learning.  Although I'm not a very good fan of dancing and drama - after having learned their significance and effectiveness in the process of teaching and learning - I am more open about learning more about dance and drama.

Lesson Suggestion:

Drama play

"Gas Station"

Provide the kids with cardboard boxes or chairs for cars, a long rubber hose, cash register, play money, paper towels, and water sprayer (to clean windows). Large boxes or blocks may serve as the gas pumps.

(KLAs = literacy (language development, concept development)

Resources