Creative Dance Movement for Grades K-5

3 units

This course introduces creative movement as a mode of whole body learning. Students will experience creative dance movement both as an expressive form and as a vehicle for arts integration in the K-5 classroom. Students will become familiar with using the elements of dance: body, space, force and time in lesson planning, and will gain practice with strategies using mindfulness and sensitivity to movement as ways to foster self-regulation in children. Reading assignments and specific movement exercises will support the student's development in pedagogical expertise. National dance education standards will inform methods for lesson planning, evaluation and assessment. This course applies towards both Missouri State Elementary Dance certification requirements and to the Certificate in Somatic Studies at Washington University.