For nearly two decades we have had the privilege of working with diverse populations in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and greater Northeast Ohio – reaching some 4,500 students in 80 schools since 2003.
This past fall, GroundWorks teaching artists presented creative movement workshops at Willson School, once a week for 12 weeks. The program, “Making a Connection for Learning,” was a multi-disciplinary approach to math, science and English Language Arts, exploring curriculum concepts while teaching the essentials of dance movement.
The activities for each session were planned carefully with the classroom teachers to reinforce and enhance the lessons in the classroom. Students worked individually, with partners, and in small groups to connect academic concepts through movement and creative dance. They also achieved goals of working as a group, such as cooperation, trust, respect, sensitivity, awareness, reaction, coordination and teamwork.