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There's an App for That

Each year during the 3rd Six Weeks, my ballet classes study classical ballet repertoire, most commonly the Nutcracker. We learn the story line, history, and a dance to one of the classical characters of the ballet. In years past, I borrow the children's book from my daughters bookshelf and we sit around and read it together. This year, I wondered if I could be lucky enough to find something digital to use. There are filmed readings on YouTube, apps called Nutcracker-Ballet School Stories, Nutcracker-Bedtime Story for Children, Sound Books-The Nutcracker, and The Nutcracker-Musical Storybook ($2.99) as well Nutcracker story games. Wonder about the original book behind the story line written for the Nutcracker Ballet? There's an app for that too. (Nutcracker and the Mouse King)

Ballet 4 is doing the same lesson with Swan Lake. There is Sound Books-Swan Lake, The Swan Lake ($0.99), Swan Lake-Bedtime Fairy Tale ($4.99). We also used Youtube for both classes to watch one version of choreography from famous companies each day. Just another great way that technology can bring so much history into the classroom.

Original scores of music are too fast for learning? Need the music slowed down? Sped up?
Tempo slow will do the trick!


Dance and Media started Module 2, Lesson 3, "Dancing Social Change," Students had to reflect on the communities they created in Popplet during Module 1. They used iBrainstorm to write down 3 social issues of their choice. They then chose 3 of their 6 to connect and drop to a class iBrainstorm that I had projected on the screen. We then moved the post-its around into any circles they are connected in and discussed and repetition and unity we saw.

The next step of the process was for the students to choose one of the social issues and write an antonym Diamante  Poem. The curriculum lead to a great online resource that helps the student with the structure of the poem. However, upon preparation for the class, I found that website requires flash player that does not work on the iPads. I first began looking for an app to at would allow the Flash Player to work. After some time reading blogs on the best work around, I decided to check for an app to help with the poem, and guess what?...you got it...there's an app for that! It happens to be an app of the same program I had been trying to access on the web. It was a great way to both create, share, and display out poems.



My Jazz 4 students got to hear their element inspired music, created by their Music & Media classmates, and earlier in the week we spent some time exploring movement in relation to their element. We bonded elements that could not be bonded in real life, we danced protons and neutrons, with electrons circling the outside. It was so exciting to see what was to come with their dances. I hope this blog finds you relaxing and creating your own bonds with with family, and you don't need an app for that.

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