Kinection for Learning

Kinection for Learning is a long-term residency program designed to support and enhance classroom learning through creative movement and kinesthetic learning.  The program is designed to align with OH Academic Content Standards in a variety of subjects and grade levels making it easily customizable to the needs of any school.

Groundworks teaching artists take academic concepts from any areas of the core curriculum (STEM) and create new connections and understanding through experiential learning and physical embodiment.  There is a common belief that you never forget how to ride a bike – and it’s true.  Once you have internalized and learned something physically the memory of that information lives in you.  By teaching students academic topics through their minds AND bodies, we are implementing the same strategy.  Our programming breaks down into 6 steps:

  1. Lesson planning sessions with teachers of all subjects involved and GroundWorks artists.  During this session teachers and artists will discuss the areas that students typically struggle with comprehension.
  2. Follow-up development session to refine lesson plans and schedule them into the teachers existing curriculum.  In this session GW artist bring their proposed lesson plans and discuss with the teachers to ensure they are supporting the classroom learning as much as possible.  Both groups also look at scheduling to see when different element may be best incorporated to align both curriculums.
  3. Teachers and artists work together to create and complete a pre-assessment of the students before GW programming begins.
  4. GW artists work with students for 12 weeks in once a week period long sessions.
  5. Students host a cumulative performance for their friends and families to demonstrate their new knowledge and skills.
  6. Teachers and artists perform a post-assessment of the students upon completion of the residency.

Goals for the program include:

  • To enhance and support understanding of academic core standards and principals through movement.
  • To encourage creative problem solving.
  • To provide a more individualized experience for the students (teacher to student ratio is usually around 1:6).
  • To increase focus and interest in academic subjects.
  • To bring together artists and educators to create a unique and valuable experience for learners.

To learn more or inquire about bringing a Kinection for Learning experience to your school, please email our Education Director Joan Meggitt at joan@groundworksdance.org