Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to explore language arts concepts through hip hop dancing, including rhythm, rhyming, and storytelling.
Materials and Prep
- An open space for dancing
- Music player or device
- Comfortable clothes
- Optional: Hip hop music playlist
Activities
- Warm-up Dance Party: Start the lesson with a fun warm-up dance party. Play some upbeat music and encourage your child to move freely, exploring different dance moves and grooves.
- Rhythm and Rhyme: Introduce the concept of rhythm and rhyming in hip hop. Play a hip hop song and ask your child to listen carefully to the beat and identify the rhyming words in the lyrics. Encourage them to clap or stomp along with the rhythm.
- Storytelling Dance: Choose a favorite children's storybook or nursery rhyme. Read or recite the story together, and then ask your child to create a dance routine that tells the story through movements. They can use gestures, facial expressions, and body movements to bring the story to life.
- Create Your Own Rap: Help your child write a simple rap about a topic they are interested in. It could be about their favorite animal, food, or activity. Encourage them to use rhyming words and incorporate some storytelling elements into their rap.
- Performance Time: Once your child feels confident with their dance routine and rap, have a mini-performance. They can showcase their dance moves and perform their rap for you or other family members.
Preschool Grade Talking Points
- "Today, we are going to learn about language arts through hip hop dancing."
- "We will explore rhythm and rhyming in hip hop music."
- "We will also use movements to tell stories through dance."
- "Finally, we will create our own rap about something we like."
- "At the end, we will have a performance to show what we have learned."