The body as an instrument
Before the children can be completely themselves, it is important that they feel good in the group. As a result, more attention is paid to getting acquainted in the first lesson. On the one hand, the focus is on getting to know the children and the coach. On the other hand, the emphasis is on getting to know and becoming aware of the body.
Goals
- Get to know each other and dance in a playful way
- Moving body parts separately
- Increasing body awareness
- Improvising with movements
- To create amusement for the children
Essentials
- Music installation
Introduction
During the introduction it is important that the children get to know and trust each other. It is also important that the coach gets to know the children. To achieve this, a short introductory game is played. I explain step by step what needs to be done. I also clarify the assignment again with a video.
1. Place the children in a circle
2. Explain the children what’s planned
In this case: get acquainted first, warm up by means of dance exercises, examine the movements of different body parts together with the children, and conclude.
3. Explain the game
The children are introduced to each other by saying their names one by one. While mentioning their name they clap the syllables along. You as a coach take the lead and show the exercise. Her below I give an example.
Step 1: "Hello children, I am ... (you say and clap your first name) Max-ime. My name has 2 syllables so I clap 2x.
Step 2: as soon as the previous person has pasted his name, the person next to you will answer.
Step 3: "Hi Maxime, I'm ... (the next one says and pops his first name).
Step 4: eventually, all children in the circle named their names and the introductory game was completed.
4. Video
Here you can also find a detailed video which explains the exercise. I do this in English. During the execution of the game, it goes without saying that the children may perform the game in their own language.
Warm-up
While warming-up a short game will be played again. The focus in this case will be more on getting to know the body. Again I will explain the assignment step by step.
1. Let the children spread themselves across the room.
2. Explain the game
Tell the children that a wizard passed by last night and enchanted everyone in the village. The spell has ensured that when the music starts everyone comes alive. When the music stops, the spell will freeze the kids.
In concrete terms, this means that the children move through the room. As soon as the music starts, they start dancing (these may be movements of your choice). As soon as the music stops, they must stop and they may not move anymore
Core
During the core the body awareness will be increased and the children will explore space through dance and experiment with movements. Both matters will be discussed in a playful way on the basis of 2 different assignments. For each assignment I will explain again the structure step by step.
Exercise 1: increasing body awareness
1. Place the children in a circle
2. Have the children sit cross-legged on the floor
3. The intention is that you, as a coach, go with the children to find out how to dance while sitting.
You ask them, "which parts of the body can dance when we are seated?"
Possible answers: arms, hands, fingers, head, face, shoulders, trunk, feet, ...
4.Then examine the movements of the different body parts together with the children
Points of attention: Let them try to keep the rest of their body still. Here the focus is on isolation.
5. Successively try to make them move 2 body parts at the same time
Points of attention: don't let them move the rest of their body. Here the focus is on coordination.
6. Finally, all body parts are allowed to move at the same time
7. Video
Here you can also find a detailed video which explains the exercise. I will successively go through points 4, 5 and 6 and show you a number of options.
Exercise 2: improvise with movements
1. Let the children spread themselves across the room.
2. Explain the game. Focus back on the wizard's story (see global warming).
Tell the children that the wizard caused many problems with his spell. Without music, everyone in the village would freeze for years, that’s why everyone is making constantly music. Since no one thinks it is livable, you, the coach, want to break the spell together with the children. To break the spell, you will have to find the wizard hidden somewhere. For this you will have to cross several dangerous roads together. The different roads all have their specific dangers that require a number of adjustments.
Successively I explain all roads step by step:
Step 1: the first road you will encounter together is a very open road without obstacles. In other words, the children are allowed to move freely through space. Also mention that they are allowed to use the entire space and that they can use all possible movements. They must be able to dance the way they want to dance. When the music stops they come to a second road.
Step 2: the second road where they arrive is a very wooded road with trees and shrubs hanging low over the ground. It is now the intention that the children move freely again, but keep their movements low to the ground. Do not let them rise above the attendant's hip height. The children are allowed to dance again the way they want. So also on the ground. When the music stops there will be again a new road that they have to cross.
Step 3: at the third road you see that the road is no longer a road. The road passes through a lake. For this reason, the children should dive and occasionally come to the surface to catch their breath. Let them move freely again with an additional task to make swimming movements.
Step 4: finally you come together on a road that is very hot. It is impossible for the children to walk on the road with bare feet. For this reason, like on hot sand, children will have to lift their feet and occasionally walk on the tips or heels. The children are therefore allowed to move freely again. In addition, they are instructed to sometimes lift their feet, walk on the tips, walk on the heels, ...
Step 5: finally, you and the children arrive at the wizard.
Points of attention:
- Let the children move freely and find their own movements. Let each step last until you notice that the children have had enough.
- To make it visually clear to the children, I have included a link below, which refers to a picture of a wizard. You can copy this and show them to the children. It is a colourless wizard so that there is also the possibility to let the children colour the drawing themselves.
http://www.kleurplaten.nl/kleurplaten/10906.gif
- You can use the songs below which I have included in a link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRKoQHRKKis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCzh0omu8VI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE6RYpe9IT0
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pirates+of+the+caribbean+soundtrack
3. Video
Here you can also find a detailed video which explains the exercise. In this video I show possible movements per step or path that the children will complete. These movements can be used as a guideline if the children are unable or shy to move freely. I also show how the additional assignments can be implemented in the movements.
End
Finally, a cooling down will be done. Through this exercise, the children will calm down again and the session for this week can be completed.
1. Let the children spread themselves across the room.
Points of attention: Keep enough distance between the children
2. Have the children lie completely motionless on the floor.
3. Explain the game. Focus back on the wizard's story.
Tell the children that you are very tired after finding the wizard. For this reason you take a well deserved rest and will lie down on the grass for a while..
Step by step I explain below what you as a coach need to say and do:
Step 1: have the children close their eyes
Step 2: tell them they are currently in a lawn where you have found the wizard.
Step 3: let them relax by making it clear to them that they will rest here
Step 4: go deeper into the scents. Tell them you smell the smell of the grass
Step 5: go deeper into the sounds. Tell them you hear the crowing, you hear the wind rustling against the leaves of the trees, ...
Step 6: delve deeper into the sensations of lying in grass. Tell them that you feel the sun on your face, tell them that this sun gives warmth which gives a whole shiver through your body, tell them that you feel the grass crawling against your body, ...
Complete
When the exercise is completed and the children relax again, you can tell them that the session is finished.
Points of attention:
- Focus on the positives.
- Tell them how much you enjoyed the fact that they cooperated so well and that each of them did so well.
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