The Thuderstorm Jitterbug!

Summer is here and with summer heat comes summer thunderstorms.  Some children can find thunder and lightning very scary.  A lot of the fear has to do with the unpredicatable nature of the sound and light.  Some people can even jump sky high when startled by thunder sending their nerves all a jitter!  So how do you combat jitters in your bones and belly - dance of course!!


The Thunderstorm Jitterbug!


What you will need:

• Grab some tambourines, egg shakers, or pots and pans 
• Find a big sheet, tablecloth or blanket
• Pull out a flashlight
• Grab some scarves, streamers or a water spritz bottles

Here we go:

1. Drape the sheet over you and your little ones .*
2. Have each child hold a percussion instrument and slowly move up and down as if you were a raincloud filling up with moisture ready to pour down on your neighborhood.
3. When the excitiment builds say "I see lightning" and flash the flashlight up to the ceiling. 
4. Then ask the kids "what happens after lightning?"  Thunder of course!  Have them bang away at their instruments.
5. Count and see how long before the lightning strikes again!
6. Repeat this as many times as you like.  You can start with 10 seconds between each "lighting strike" and have the thunder and lightning get closer and closer until....
7. After the thunder and lightning comes the rain. Throw off the sheet and dance around with scarves, streamers or even water spritz bottles.  You are the raindrops dancing down from the clouds.

*If you have extra adults handy, you can also hold the blanket up and have the little ones stand on one side of the blanket.  They can push on the sheet to expand the cloud as well as move up and down.  The children can come out from under the sheet when it is time for the rain to dance.


We learn through our experiences.  If you do a Thunderstorm Jitterbug with your kids then maybe the next time there is a big storm instead of hiding under the bed they will run for their tambourines instead!


Have fun making storm clouds with the kids in your life,
Sincerely,
Stacey

Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head

I love the rain.  And it has been raining a lot in the northeast.  A lot might be an understatement.  It has been raining every day!  I hear many people complaining that they can't wait for the sun to come out or they are so tired of the gloomy weather.  I sympathize with how they feel.  I also see all this rain as a learning opportunity!

The next time it rains have your kids/students lie on the floor.  Turn the lights off.  Ask them to listen closely.  Ask them to concentrate on what they hear.  Do this for a few minutes.  Ask them what they heard.  Write down their answers. (The more descriptive the better.)

Have them look out the window. Ask them to focus on the rain.  What does it look like if you focus far away?  What does it look like up close?  How does it look on the window.  Again, write down what they say.

Ask them what rain feels like.  ( If you have an opportunity to take them outside or open a window that would be great but not necessary. They can remember what it feels like as well.)  What does it feel like on your nose, tongue, hands, feet?  Write down their answers.

Ask them what rain tastes like.  (Again they can draw on past experiences.)  Ask them about the temperature of the rain as well.  Write down what they tell you.

Does rain have a smell? If so, what does it smell like? Record their answers.

This exercise works on the children's observation skills.  They are challenged to explore with all of their senses.  We take in so much of the world with our eyes.  It is great to take in our surroundings with the other senses as well.

Ask them to dance using their observations as inspiration.  Have the rain be their orchestra!

Keep this exercise up your sleeve for a rainy day.  Instead of asking the students to stop looking outside at the rain, encourage them to do so.  Encourage them to be aware of their surroundings and how their surroundings effect them.

Have fun with the little ones in your life exploring the world with all of their senses!

Sincerely,
Stacey