Moving and Learning

According to Montessori course , “early movement experiences are helpful to optimal brain development”. In fact, early movement experiences are considered necessary to the neural motivation needed for healthy brain development. Still, many early childhood care professionals are unwilling to incorporate movement into the set of courses. They may feel there just isn’t sufficient time in the day or they may lack a gym or other such space in which to conduct movement activities. ArtrnConcepts like shape, size, spatial relationships, and line are part of both art and movement education. Whenever kids arrange their bodies in the space around them, it can be said they’re discovering creative concepts as well as physical ones. When they move into different levels, in different directions, along different pathways, and in relation to others and to objects, they’re growing their spatial consciousness. Language Artsrnthe potential for discovering language arts through movement are infinite. Consider acting out the meaning of individual words from stories, poems, or even spelling lists. Through movement, kids can begin to understand the meaning of action words like slide, follow, jump, or stomp – or expressive words like elegant, smooth, or vigorous. According to pre primary teachers training course preschool kids can work in pairs to display the meanings of simple opposites like sad and happy, or up and down, with primary-grade partners challenged to show possibilities for tight versus loose or open versus closed. MathematicsrnQuantitative ideas are part of the verbal communication of mathematics, and movement is an ideal, physical means of conveying many of these ideas to kids. For example, activities linking levels and body shapes can show the concepts of big and little, long and short, high and low, wide and narrow. The movement element of force is all about light and heavy. Musicrnto experience movement and music together, sing the scale to the kids, explaining how each consecutive note is higher in pitch than the previous one. If probable, show on a keyboard or show the scale written on a staff. Ask the kids to sing the scale with you. Then ask them to lay their hands in their laps, raising them a little bit higher with every note you sing. Once the kids have grabbed the idea, confront them to show with their whole bodies, beginning close to the floor and getting as close to the ceiling as probable. Sciencernmany themes classically explored in classrooms fall under the science category, as well as the human body – body parts and their functions, the senses, cleanliness, and nutrition, seasons, and other topics related to nature – weather, animals, plants, and the ocean. All of these naturally lend themselves to movement experiences. Relaxation exercises that require the kids to contract and relax the muscles are also excellent for increasing an awareness of these important body parts. Similarly, relaxation exercises focusing on the breath can generate an awareness of the lungs. Social StudiesrnLessons in social studies for young kids begin with the kids themselves because that is where their world begins. Self-concept, therefore, is a logical starting point. Ask kids to imagine walking as though sad, madding, arrogant, scared, tired, or happy. Can they show these emotions with hands or faces alone? Possibilities flourish for exploring such social studies themes as holidays and celebrations, occupations, and transportation. For the latter, you can ask kids to think of and portray modes of transportation found mainly in cities, on water, and in the sky. Introduce the kids to traffic lights by playing a movement game with three sheets of paper – one red, one yellow, and one green. When you hold up the green sheet, the kids walk. They walk in place when they see the yellow sheet and come to a complete stop when you hold up the red. Conclusionrnevery teacher and every child brings new ideas and new potential to the concept of moving and learning.