Dance Week 2

The group that presented today really stuck out to me and really showed an amazing way to incorporate social studies into dance. The group decided to incorporate grade 8 Social Studies (overall expectation B1 explores the application of global inequalities in quality of life and mostly B1.1 which calls on students to examine the interrelationships of factors that contribute to quality of life) with dance. They led us in a traditional dance from the Filipino culture that originated as a form of corporal punishment while the Phillipines were under Spanish Colonial rule.

Modifications for students with Physical Exceptionalities include:
● partner or teacher can hold the hand or arm of the student while they complete the steps over the bamboo sticks
● speed and timing of the steps can be slowed down to a pace where the student feels most comfortable
● students who cannot physically jump or move quickly on their feet (wheelchair, crutches, etc.) can use props like hockey sticks or lacrosse sticks to repeat the steps over the bamboo sticks

I did not manage to get a video of my class partaking in this great exercise, however I was able to find a video of the dance online.

The theory that we focused on this week was Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory. Gardner stated that there were 8 distinct types of intelligences, or ways that students learn. This is a description of the different types of intelligences from our class notes:

1. Visual/Spatial Intelligence ability to perceive the visual. These learners tend to think in pictures and need to create vivid mental images to retain information. They enjoy looking at maps, charts, pictures, videos, and movies. Their skills include: 

puzzle building, reading, writing, understanding charts and graphs, manipulating images, constructing, fixing, designing
 2. Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence ability to use words and language. These learners have highly developed auditory skills and are generally elegant speakers. They think in words rather than pictures. Their skills include: 

 listening, speaking, writing, storytelling, explaining, teaching, using humor, understanding the syntax and meaning of words, debating  3. Logical/Mathematical Intelligence ability to use reason, logic and numbers. These learners think conceptually in logical and numerical patterns making connections between pieces of information. Always curious about the world around them, these learners ask lots of questions and like to do experiments. Their skills include: problem solving, classifying and categorizing information, working with abstract concepts to figure out the relationship of each to the other 4. Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence ability to control body movements and handle objects skillfully. These learners express themselves through movement. They have a good sense of balance and eye-hand co-ordination. (e.g. ball play, balancing beams). Through interacting with the space around them, they are able to remember and process information. Their skills include: dancing, physical co-ordination, sports, hands on experimentation, using body language, crafts, acting, miming, using their hands to create or build  5. Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence ability to produce and appreciate music. These musically inclined learners think in sounds, rhythms and patterns. They immediately respond to music either appreciating or criticizing what they hear. Many of these learners are extremely sensitive to environmental sounds (e.g. crickets, bells, dripping taps). Their skills include: singing, whistling, playing musical instruments, recognizing tonal patterns, composing music, remembering melodies, understanding rhythms 6. Interpersonal Intelligence ability to relate and understand others. These learners try to see things from other people's point of view in order to understand how they think and feel. They often have an uncanny ability to sense feelings, intentions and motivations. They are great organizers, although they sometimes resort to manipulation. Generally, they try to maintain peace in group settings and encourage co-operation. They use both verbal (e.g. speaking) and non-verbal language (e.g. eye contact, body language) to open communication channels with others. Their skills include:seeing things from other perspectives (dual-perspective), listening, using empathy, understanding other people's moods and feelings, counselling 7. Intrapersonal Intelligence ability to self-reflect and be aware of one's inner state of being. These learners try to understand their inner feelings, dreams, relationships with others, and strengths and weaknesses. Their Skills include:Recognizing their own strengths and weaknesses, reflecting and analyzing themselves, evaluating thinking patterns 8. Naturalisticability to understand nature and the outdoors. These learners nurture and relate information to their natural surroundings. Their Skills include: Recognizing flora and fauna and weather patterns, classifying animal and plant species, nurturing one’s surroundings

This theory is important because knowing in what ways your students learn best, allows you to adapt and modify your approach to lessons to better suit your student's needs.

Melissa also led us in a fun activity today called Retrograde in which we had to create a sequence based on a thunderstorm, perform the sequence, and then repeat the sequence backwards; from end to beginning.