Today is National Square Dance Day. We took time to discuss the early barn dances that took place in small towns or farming communities. Students learned that these dances were major social events for communities and brought people together for much needed fun and relaxation after working hard on the farm. It was difficult for the children to imagine dance music without I-pads, I-pods, or CD's, so we discussed the use of various instruments that might have been used at a barn dance. We reenacted those instruments during our dance, so students played guitar, harmonica, pots and pans, washboard, fiddle, and piano. We also started learning some square dance skills and putting them to country music. We are doing an activity where students are actually doing scatter square dance and getting an opportunity to be with many different partners. Some of the moves, like around the flag pole, are less conventional, but students enjoy doing them. We will work on these skills again, and learn new ones, as we prepare for Early Childhood Pioneer Day on January 29.
The class does "circle two" with a partner.
Doing the "lasso" and getting ready to "rope a steer."
Turning with a partner on "make a star."
Students "fly like an eagle" as they move about the floor.
Doing "around the flag pole" with a friend. Later they will change places.
