Professional Documents
Culture Documents
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 1
THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION AND DANCE
T e a c h i n g T i p s
AT THE WALL… FINE MOTOR
Seven (from Australia). This is a handball game SKILL DEVELOPMENT…
that students play independently. The object is to Trier (from Trinidad). Each student has five
try and “beat” the wall. Each student should have dried beans (or small objects). Each student
a ball that bounces well against a wall. Students tosses the beans in the air and catches as many
stand about 1.5 metres from a wall, throwing and as possible with one hand.
catching the ball. Each time the ball is thrown at
the wall, students call out a number and follow the Variation: Place the five beans on the back of
directions of that number: one hand. Toss them up and catch them with
the palm of the same hand, or with both hands.
“Onesies”: Throw the ball against Repeat, trying to catch more beans each time.
the wall and catch it.
Source: Ontario Health and Physical Education
“Twosies”: Throw the ball Curriculum Support:
against the wall, let it Kindergarten to Grade 2, Unit 10, Sub-task #6
bounce once before Thanks to Myra Stephens, Toronto,
catching it. (Repeat two Ontario for submitting these activities.
times). myra@ophea.org
“Threesies”: Throw the
ball against the wall, clap
before the ball is caught.
(Repeat three times.)
“Foursies”: Throw the
ball against the wall, spin around, and catch the
ball after the first bounce. (Repeat four times,
spinning in the opposite direction each time.)
“Fivesies”: Throw the ball against the wall, clap
your hands behind your back twice, catch the ball.
(Repeat five times.) The best teachers
“Sixies”: Throw the ball against the wall, get down show children there is
in a push-up position, then jump up and catch the no line of demarcation
ball after it bounces once. (Repeat six times.) between learning and life.
“Sevensies”: Throw the ball against the wall, clap Their students soon find out
your hands once in front and once behind before that it takes the same life qualities
catching the ball. (Repeat seven times.)
to get an A in basketball or dance:
Source: Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum Support:
Kindergarten to Grade 1, Unit 10, Sub-task #2 discipline, a good attitude,
and plenty of practice.
THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION AND DANCE
T e a c h i n g T i p s
Have you ever been to a
GREEK WEDDING?
I recently attended a Greek wedding and couldn’t get
enough of the Greek dancing that was being enjoyed by
all the guests. Doing the traditional Greek wedding
dances made me feel as if I was truly a part of the culture. Teaching ESL Students
Whether you are doing Philippino tinikling, Serbian kolos, in Physical Education.
Italian tarentellas or even the Mexican Hat Dance, there is
no better way to appreciate another ethnic culture than Students who don’t speak English
by taking part in these traditional dances. as a first language should still be
able to enjoy and succeed in a
With Canada’s multi-cultural society, teachers have physical education program.
an excellent opportunity to help students celebrate the
traditions and elements of our many cultures through - Assign an English speaking
“buddy” who might speak the
folk dance teaching units. (There are many cross-
same language.
curricular opportunities here as well.)
- Physically move the student
Here are some examples of Folk Dance that can be through the skill.
researched and explored. - Use gestures, cues and other
Germany – Triolett, D’Hammerschmeidsgellen visual aids
(Blacksmith’s Dance), Atlantic Mixer, Bavarian Landler - Use facial expression and voice
Mexico – La Danza de los Viejetos, La Raspa, El Jarabe inflection to emphasize your
points.
Tapatico
- Remember to speak slowly and
Israel – Mayim Mayim, Hora (Hava Nagilah) enunciate clearly.
Ghana – Highlife - Emphasize key words or phrases.
Russia – Troika, Korobushka - Encourage the student to repeat
Hungary – Csebogar, Czardas-Vengerka the words as they execute the
skill.
Yugoslavia – Pleskavao Kolo, Ersko Kolo - Learn some of the important
Czechoslovakia – Doudleska Polka words or phrases from the
student’s native language
Canada – Brandy Rump Bump, Canadian Lancers, La
Bastringue Physical Education Methods for
Classroom Teaching, Bonnie Pettifor,
Denmark – Dance of Greeting
Human Kinetics (see www.cahperd.ca)
U.S.A. – Bingo, Cotton Eyed Joe, Virginia Reel, Teton
Mountain Stomp
Poland – Krakowiak, Lasowiak
“To teach is to touch
Italy – Neapolitan Tarentella, Sicilian Circle
lives forever.”
Philippines – Tinikling, Carinosa
Sweden – Tivoli Hambo, F’Jaskern (Hurry Skurry) “Enseigner, c’est
Scotland – Dashing White Sergeant influencer des vies
Estonia – Kiigidi Kaagidi pour toujours”
Japan – Solan Bushi, Tanko Bushi “Ensennar es tocar
Switzerland – Gruezi Wohl vidas para siempre.”
Les Potapczyk, Niagara Falls, Ontario. potapczyk@sympatico.ca
- Anon
G R E AT S C H O O L E V E N T –
Ever thought of planning your own Caribbana celebration at your school?
While Caribbean dances can be a fun addition to a physical education program,
they can also serve as the basis to a festive spirit week or theme day event.
• Invite teachers from other curriculum areas to join in and Follow the Leader – by The Soca Boys:
link it to their own teaching units, such as geography
(learn about the islands), social studies (learn about The words of this song provide the best instructions…
cultures), art (study art, develop artwork to promote the listen and follow along! Encourage students to keep
event, design props), drama (plan a skit), languages moving their feet even during the instructions (have them
(incorporate the theme), home economics (develop imagine that they are standing in hot sand!)
food, costumes, etc) and so on. Offer spirit or house During all repeats of follow the leader, take 2 steps
league points for mini-projects relating to the theme. forward, 1, 2, 3 rock-step, back two steps, jump, clap.
• Promote and advertise the Caribbana or Caribbean Spirit Hands Up, Hands Down – wave hands in the air, then
Day to the entire school. Plan the event for indoors to wave hands down at waist.
warm up a cold winter day or plan it for June to coincide
with the warm weather. One hand in the air – use one hand up, wave from left to
right slowly then double time, with both hands.
• Invite parents or community members to volunteer or
participate. Include information in the school newsletter Jump to the left, jump to the right – both
or develop information flyers. feet, one foot… your choice!
• Create awards such as Best Dressed, Most Unique, and Clap and Wave – 4 claps, V-step forward
the Carmen Miranda Award. and wave hands in air.
• Get students and staff in the spirit. Use Caribbean Music Repeat after me…– the song calls to repeat,
at school during the announcements and in the cafeteria “I love Soca” however, you can replace this
during the days and weeks leading up to the event. with your school name, house, class, etc. The
song ends with everybody screaming. This is
• Ask staff to plan an event as part of the celebration. a big hit for students of all ages.
They may want to create a Caribbean activity or station
for the day of the event. Jump and Wave – students jump and wave
with hands in the air. Students can jump
• Notify your local around in circle on repeats of “jump, jump, jump…”
newspaper/tele-
vision station of The roof is on fire – The kids will know this move better
the event (where than you! Push hands, palms up in air… wave fingers in
possible) so that the air, row with the arms, punch to the left, then punch to
day can be recorded the right.
for posterity! Moving to the left – 4 side steps to the left, 4 steps to the
right… repeat two times then Jump and Wave.
Freeze
THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION AND DANCE
T e a c h i n g T i p s
CARIBBEAN DANCING
Day of the Event: Free Flow Play Day:
You might choose to run this day as a tabloid event or Provide students with passports
as a free flow play day. Consider the following Each station will represent a different Caribbean
suggestions. Country. For example:
THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION AND DANCE
T e a c h i n g T i p s
ACTIVITIES
Multicultural Games, Lorraine Barbarash, Human Kinetics. Multicultural Games, Lorraine Barbarash, Human Kinetics.
THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION AND DANCE
T e a c h i n g T i p s