Creative Movement and Dance Lesson Ideas for Children

Dance and creative movement are important for children’s development, as they help to improve physical coordination, creativity, and self-expression. There are many ways to incorporate dance and creative movement into lesson plans for children, and the following are just a few ideas to get you started.

Pre School Dance Lessons

Pre school dance lessons are a great way to introduce young children to the joys of movement and self-expression through dance. There are many different types of pre school dance lessons available, including ballet, tap, jazz, and creative movement. These lessons can be tailored to the needs and abilities of young children, and can include a variety of fun and engaging activities, such as playing with scarves and ribbons, pretending to be different animals, and listening to different types of music.

Creative Movement and Drama

Combining creative movement with drama can be a fun and engaging way for children to express themselves through movement and storytelling. Some ideas for incorporating creative movement and drama into lesson plans might include:

  • Acting out a story: Choose a story that the children are familiar with, such as “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” and have them act it out using creative movement and dramatic play.
  • Improv games: Play games that encourage children to think on their feet and use their bodies to express themselves, such as “Freeze,” where children have to freeze in a pose whenever the music stops, or “Mirror,” where children have to mimic the movements of their partner.
  • Role-playing: Encourage children to use creative movement to act out different roles and scenarios, such as playing store or going to the doctor.

Dance and Music

Music and dance go hand in hand, and there are many ways to incorporate both into lesson plans for children. Some ideas might include:

  • Music and movement games: Play games that involve listening to different types of music and moving to the beat, such as “Musical Statues,” where children have to freeze in a pose whenever the music stops, or “Musical Pass the Parcel,” where children pass a ball or other object to the beat of the music.
  • Choreography: Have children create their own dances by choosing their own music and coming up with their own movements. This can be a great way to encourage creativity and self-expression.
  • Dancing with props: Give children a variety of props to dance with, such as scarves, hula hoops, or ribbons, and see what they come up with. This can be a fun and engaging way to explore different types of movement.

Dance and Literature

Dance can be a great way to bring literature to life and engage children in a different way. Some ideas for incorporating dance into literature lesson plans might include:

  • Acting out stories: Choose a story that the children are familiar with and have them act it out using creative movement and dance.
  • Creating dance interpretations: Have children create their own dance interpretations of a story or poem. This can be a great way to encourage creativity and self-expression.
  • Using dance to explore themes: Use dance to explore themes in literature, such as friendship, love, or bravery. This can be a great way to help children understand and relate to the stories they are reading.

Dance and creative movement can be a fun and engaging way for children to express themselves and improve their physical coordination, creativity, and self-expression. There are many different ways to incorporate dance and creative movement into lesson plans, and the ideas above are just a few to get you started. Whether through pre school dance lessons, combining creative movement with drama, using dance and music, or incorporating dance into literature lessons, there are many ways to help children improve their physical coordination, creativity, and self-expression through dance. By encouraging children to express themselves and have fun through movement, we can help them develop important skills that will benefit them in all areas of their lives.