CREATIVE MOVEMENT FOR DISTRICT 75

This residency introduces all District 75 students to an exploration of kinesthetic and spatial awareness, creative expression and connection to self and others through movement and music. Experienced Teaching Artists (TAs) adapt creative material according to the physical and cognitive functioning levels of each class.  Teachers and para-professionals work together in partnership with TAs, assisting and guiding students when necessary.

In this course, students of all functioning levels develop a variety of basic locomotor (traveling through space) and non-locomotor (moving in place) movements. Gross and fine motor skills are increased as the student creatively explores movement as it pertains to his or her own body, those of others, and their surroundings. Through partnering and group/peer interactions, the class develops coordination, body awareness, and new ways to be in positive, appropriate contact with others.

Through this residency, each class engages in interactive situations which demonstrate cause and effect, directionality, and the basic concept of moving through space, while simultaneously encouraging increased balance and agility. Students gain self-confidence and experience the power of movement as an effective communication tool. Objects such as scarves, ribbon wands ,and percussion instruments are often incorporated as multi-sensory, movement-stimulation props, to the delight of children of all ages. Students learn that creative movement can be a joyful, expressive experience, where physical education and therapy often leave students feeling unhappy with their bodies and the ways they are able to maneuver through space.

The Teaching Artist begins the residency with exercises that build spatial awareness, physical boundaries, safety and group cooperation. Some of the exercises reinforce color and shape concepts, and teach how to initiate and imitate a variety of simple movements. Other movement-based games teach students to distinguish various auditory cues. Students are challenged to work on mastery of body control, spatial and motor concepts (over, under, around, through, etc.), and movement as a means of self expression. Music from around the world and a wide range of genres are incorporated into the residency to reinforce concepts of multi-culturalism and the emotional components of music, as appropriate to the ability of students and the curricula with which the residency aims to integrate.

If administrators, TAs and teachers feel that students would benefit from a presentational experience, some residencies (with higher functioning students) may culminate with an informal, shared performance, or a participatory parent/child workshop. Lower functioning students experience movement solely in the safe, familiar space of the classroom, through a variety of multi-sensory activities.

Students of all levels of physical, emotional, and developmental ability explore the kinesthetic and spatial concepts of movement, increasing range-of motion, gross and fine motor skills, locomotor and non-locomotor movements.