ERIC Number: EJ1175586
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Feb
Pages: 7
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8148
EISSN: N/A
Dance Like a Butterfly
Stapp, Alicia; Chessin, Debby; Deason, Rebecca
Science and Children, v55 n6 p54-60 Feb 2018
The authors represent the life cycle of the butterfly through writing, drawing, dance, and math. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) (NGSS Lead States 2013) emphasize college and career readiness as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students must develop a deep understanding of science concepts and engage in scientific thinking. Teaching the phases of the life cycle in isolation does not promote a depth of knowledge of science and is not found in the NGSS. Therefore, when developing this five-day first-grade unit, the authors focused on the overarching concepts of growth and development of organisms, patterns, and structure and function. They also engaged students in simultaneously meeting standards and objectives in science, dance, mathematics, and language arts, integrating dance with science provides students with the opportunity to "surpass visualization and representation through discursive experiences with new information." Furthermore, a comparative study of science indicated that classes that experienced kinesthetic lessons were able to remember knowledge 30 days longer than students who did not participate in kinesthetic lessons based in dance (Faber 2011). Beyond the research-based benefits of integrating dance, the authors believe that this unit enhanced students' understanding of scientific concepts, as evidenced by their final performance, and revealed an increase in students' self-confidence.
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Grade 1, Elementary School Science, Interdisciplinary Approach, Dance, Entomology, Teaching Methods, Creative Teaching, Student Journals, Mathematics, Group Discussion
National Science Teachers Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: http://www.nsta.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive; Guides - Classroom - Teacher
Education Level: Grade 1
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A