In the past month the educators have noticed that the children in School-Age 1 have shown an interest in dancing and spontaneous body movements. In response to this interest the educators prepared an activity which would initiate the children's sense of self-expression. The table set out with provocation materials had colourful ribbon, large popsicle sticks, markers, scissors, and tape. The materials encouraged the children to create their own streamers for dancing and body movements.
Olivia was excited to choose the colours of the ribbon and measure the strips in the same length. She cut the strips and tied them together with the masking tape. She attached them to the popsicle stick, which she previously decorated with the markers, to make her streamer. Harper created hers with rainbow-colored ribbon and made sure that her strips were evenly long, adjusting them by trimming with scissors until they matched. And while Alice worked on her streamer, she was checking how the ribbons flowing in the air and noticed that they made the same sound as a flag in the wind. Finnigan chose light colours of ribbon such as blue, pink, white and violet and explained that they are his mom's favourite colours.
The children were excited to try their streamers by flowing them in the air, observing the movement of the ribbon, and making their own dance moves. Each of them had their own unique choreography that they presented to the music. They showed their pride and confidence while dancing, and were able to use their streamers in an extended way. This activity encouraged children's creativity, self-expression, and social engagement. It also provided them an opportunity to practice problem solving, colour recognition, fine and gross motor skills.
