Classroom Residencies
Most of these residencies can be presented with or without a final student performance.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]STORIES THAT MOVE US: CREATIVE MOVEMENT AND MULTI-CULTURAL TALES (For grades K-2)
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Abiyoyo
Children journey through contemporary and folk stories using creative movement to make literature, history and imaginations come alive. Chosen from among the following, the stories reflect diverse cultures:
Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter, and the Underground Railroad
Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott, a Pueblo Indian tale
Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger
Mouse Match by Ed Young, a universal tale about finding one’s own power through the sun, clouds, wind, and mountain
The Great Blueness by Arnold Lobel, a story about feelings, colors, and diversity; and more.
STORIES THAT MOVE US: LEARNING SCIENCE THROUGH CREATIVE MOVEMENT (For grades K-2)
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Waiting for Wings
A true integration of literacy, science, and creative movement, this residency allows the children to become the life cycles, habitats, and nature they are learning about. Chosen from among the following stories:
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle / plant cycle, cause and effect
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert / metamorphosis of a butterfly, sequence
Swimmy by Leo Lionni / ocean life, drawing conclusions, solving problems
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry / saving the rainforest
Water Dance by Thomas Locker / water cycle, vocabulary
Earthdance by Joanne Ryder, life on earth, details, figurative language
INTERNATIONAL STORIES AND DANCES (For grade 3)
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The Great Kapok Tree
This residency enhances the third grade social studies and ELA curriculum, combining engaging stories of other cultures with authentic dance steps and music from those cultures. Stories will be chosen from among the following:
Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger, and the South African Boot Dance
Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott, and a Native American Round Dance
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry, and an Afro-Brazilian Stick Dance
Mouse Matchby Ed Young, and the Chinese Ribbon Dance
The Burning Rice Fields by Sara Cone Bryant, and a Japanese Fishing Dance
STORIES OF PEACE AND COOPERATION (For grades 2-5)
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Wings
This residency presents a collection of stories that deal with themes relating to bullying, cultural conflicts, peace, and cooperation. Integrating literacy, character education, and the performing arts, classes will explore the actions and feelings of each story with colorful scarves, and recorded music, leading to a discussion of the theme. Each story may be re-enacted by one class at a culminating presentation. This project is appropriate across one grade level, or with one class from each grade level. Stories will be chosen from among the following:
Henry and the Kite Dragon by Bruce Edward Hall – a story about conflict based on a true story of cultural misunderstanding in Chinatown and Little Italy in the 1920’s
Wings by Christopher Myers – a fictional account of Icarus, a student with wings, who gets bullied in school, and a girl who finds her voice
The Burning Rice Fields by Sara Cone Bryant – based on a true story of sacrifice during a tsunami in Japan
The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind – an Aesop fable retold by Heather Forest – a story about the strength of gentleness
Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport – the story of Martin Luther King Jr. and the power of non-violent resistance
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: Climbing into history (For grades 4-6)
This one-session residency, infused with facts and stories of American and NYS history, brings students through an experience of escaping on the underground railroad. After a short video clip and physical warm-up to set the context, students participate in a journey on the URR, choreograph and perform their own group journeys, and create tableaux to capture the essence of these historical events. Session: 60-75 minutes per class. (Detailed agenda and sample activity available upon request.)
POETRY IN MOTION (For grades 1 – 5)
Children have the opportunity to explore meaning, mood and metaphor in poetry through the medium of creative movement, inspired by evocative music. Older students can also work together in groups to choreograph short dance pieces reflecting their interpretation of a poem. Native American, African-American and Bosnian poems can be included. Children will also learn to recite a poem in sign language.
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