21st Century Swing

Today, I will be presenting the 21st century swing at the ASAHPERD Conference in Orange Beach, AL. Come by and swing with us!

For the 21st Century Swing you will need:

1. 5-8 simple 8-16 count dance moves (see the ones for today's event below)
2. Device that videos
3. Website to host videos
4. Computers/devices on which students can view dance moves

For today's session here's what I did:

1. I created 5 simple dance moves and videoed myself and Kelly performing the moves and teaching the moves. 
2. I loaded each simple dance move video instruction onto an Apple iBook computer.
3. I created 5 stations, one for each different dance move. At each station, I placed the computer with the video instruction and written dance instructions.
4. The following steps explain using the jigsaw teaching method - each group member is responsible for learning a specific part of the dance. The group members will reconvene and teach their dance moves. All dance moves will be combined into one dance. Each groups dance will be unique because there is no required order for combining the 5 dance moves.
1. Participants will be placed in squads of 5. Each squad member will be assigned a station to which he/she will go and learn the dance move. 
2. Participants go to their assigned station and learn the dance move by viewing and participating in the video dance instruction. 
3. Participants will reconvene with their groups and teach other members the dance move they will learn
4. Groups will combine the 5 dance moves into one dance - each groups final dance will be unique
5. After practicing the complete dance, groups will perform their dance for the entire class.
6. The instructor video tapes the performance of each group
5. Upon completion of videoing the students, the instructor will upload the videos to a website (personal website, youtube, etc.) where the videos can be voted on by friends, family, etc.

5 Simple Dance Moves used for Today's Presentation:

Bend & Snap

1-2 (knees together) Bend, Bend - while snapping R hand up & diagonally on bend

3-4 Repeat to L

5-6 Repeat with both hands performing overhead snap

7-8 Repeat with both hands performing waist down snap

Step & Snap

1 Step forward on R - snapping arm diagonal toward floor

2 Step forward on L - using the same snap

3-4 Repeat 1-2

5-8 Repeat entire sequence above, but stepping backwards

*May choose to begin sequence again, facing a new direction

R & L Hop and Pivot

1 Hop R foot to the R (left stationary) - arms follow feet

2 Hop L to L - R hops back to middle

3 Repeat 1

4 Repeat 2

5-8 Pivot counter clockwise on L 1/2 way around (facing back)

1-4 Repeat 1-4 above, but starting to the L

5-8 Pivot back to the front, L foot stationary

Grapevine Pumps

1-4 Grapevine to R

5-8 Knee bends while pumping R arm to R diagonally upwards

1-4 Grapevine to L

5-8 Repeat 5-8 above

Step & Twist

1 Step R foot to R - with toe pointing out

2 Step L foot to R - twisting so toes are forward

3-4 Repeat 1-2

5-8 Freestyle

1 Repeat step 1 above, but to L

2 Repeat step 2 above, but to L

3-4 Repeat

5-8 Freestyle

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

Come dance with us!

Kelly Sharp and I will be presenting this great dance Friday, 4/20, at the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance Conference in Orange Beach, AL. Stop in and dance with us!

Moves like Jagger

Ribbon Dance

1,2,3,4 Grapevine Right/2 large Clockwise circles with ribbon

5,6,7,8 Grapevine Left/2 large Counter Clockwise circles with ribbon

Repeat

1,2 Step Front (right, left) Arms/ribbon come front to “Genie Pose”

3,4 Step Back (right, left) Arms/ribbon come down to your sides

Repeat

1&2 Pony step right while making “figure 8” motion with ribbon

3&4 Pony step left while making “figure 8” motion with ribbon

5&6 Pony step right while making “figure 8” motion with ribbon

7&8 Pony step left while making “figure 8” motion with ribbon

1,2,3 Around the world to your toes

4 Hold

5,6,7,8 “Trick Rope” movement with ribbon

Repeat From around the world

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 ½ Jack with ribbon beginning on right side

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Circle ribbon above head while pivoting with right foot ½ turn.

Repeat Entire Dance

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

Videos in the Classroom

Watching videos in the classroom is nothing new, but having students create them may be very new to some classrooms. Students in ED 305 Technology and Media were tasked with the challenge of creating a video to "advertise" the Athens State University College of Education.

Take a look and vote for your favorite video - there is a place to vote after the fourth video.

Video 1

 

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Clothing Based Bias

This is a great activity used to help your students discover their biases. It was copied from the Teaching Tolerance website, which is an awesome center with lots of great resources.
I used this activity in my class - and it was great - the students really discovered things about themselves of which they were not aware.

In this lesson, students will explore the way clothing can influence our perceptions of one another.

"Who you are is more important than what you wear."
— Kenneth Cole, designer
Objective:
Students will find they impose stereotypes based solely on how someone dresses.
Materials:

• Handout: See this website: Teaching Tolerance website

Step One: Split your class in half, with half facing one side of the room and the other half facing the opposite side. Give the first half the Santa cap image and the second half the turban image.
Step Two: Ask the following questions out loud and have students write answers on their handout.

• What kind of emotions instantly come to you when you see this picture?
• Where do you think you learned about this individual?
• Who taught you about this individual?
• What did they teach you?
• How has the media (TV, movies, books, stories) shaped your image of this individual?
• How long have you known about this individual?
• Have you ever personally seen this individual?
• Have you ever seen someone dressed like this individual?
• Have you ever personally known someone who looks like this individual?

Step Three: After students have quickly jotted down answers, have students to share their responses and record them on opposite sides of the board.
To help you do this, and to help differentiate the two groups' responses, have a volunteer from each side of the room come up to record answers on the board. One side will be all Santa hat responses and the other side will be all turban responses.
Be prepared for students to be confused at the bizarrely differing responses to the image they believe all students are sharing.
Step Four: Hand out the page showing both Santa and the man in the turban. Ask the following lead questions and allow for discussion:

• What is different in the two images?
• Looking at our responses we've recorded on the board, what is similar or different about them? Why?
• Does it matter that most of you have had some experience with Santa during your lifetime? Why or why not?
• Would your responses to the image of the turban change if you knew someone personally for many years that wore one?
• What do you think we can learn from what we've done here?

Step Five: What are other groups of people we judge based solely on what they might be wearing?

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

Kiddie Klan - race relations activity

A great activity from the Legacy of Hate website

Objective: To use a visual image to inspire discussion about race relations

Audience: High school students and adults

Materials Needed: A large copy of the photo (or photo can be projected), copies of discussion questions, and writing utensils

Time Required: 30 – 60 minutes depending on length of discussion

Required materials are on the Legacy of Hate website

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

Who wants to join the Klan?

A great classroom activity from the Legacy of Hate website -

Objectives: To illustrate how easily people might be lured into joining organizations that promote prejudice and intolerance.
Audience: High school students and adults
Materials Needed: Copies of the questionnaire and writing utensils
Time Required: 30 – 90 minutes depending on option chosen and length of discussion
This teaching tool can be used in two ways. Read over the directions and questions in both options and decide which option will work best for your class.

Webtools, Webtools & MORE Webtools

Simple K12 just released an update to their (FREE) ebook titled Hidden Webtools: 11 tools for 2011. The update includes 14 new tools. The book includes examples of many of the tools - and best of all, they are all FREE. Be sure to download your copy today!

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL