Recently the 3rd Grade were studying a unit of inquiry entitled “A Passport To England” In DDM (Dance Drama and Movement). What better way was there to find out about some of the culture and traditions of England than actively engaging in learning about English folk dance.

Using traditional dance as an educational tool can provide an excellent forum for demonstrating many facets of   wide ranging educational experiences. These include citizenship, teamwork, cooperation, social skills, physical coordination, music appreciation and learning some social history of our host country among others.

We started by learning dance moves to the accompaniment of some lively folk music.

Students had to rapidly accommodate social skills in dances, which necessitated changing partners, and girls dancing with boys. In true PYP spirit children were able to adopt an attitude of open mindedness and risk taking as they implemented these partnership skills!

Many of the children noted similarities between some of the dances and those from their home cultures. This gave us the opportunity for some excellent discussion about celebrations and traditions across the world. As always, it’s extremely interesting discover the connections between cultures and how much we share.

Finally we learned a dance called “Circassian Circle”. This dance originates from the North of England and we were able to pinpoint the area on a map.   The children presented this at an assembly to the admiration of their 4th and 5th grade peers and one teacher was also enticed to join in!

It’s a particular pleasure to teach this unit and watch the children develop an enjoyment of a traditional skill in an age when old skills can be overlooked. I hope that some of them may remember the experience of this unit in time to come and go on to learn more about folk dance and preserve its heritage.