Dancing Feet!

Title: Dancing Feet

Lindsey Craig (Author)

Marc Brown (Illustrator)

Comprehension Strategy: Questioning                                   

Art Modality: Creative Movement

Summary:

“Clickity! Clickety! Long green feet! Who is dancing that clickity beat? Lizard is dancing on clickity feet.” Introducing a get-up-and-dance book—so catchy and rhythmic, you’ll almost want to sing it. Lindsey Craig’s rollicking text features funny sound words (Tippity! Creepity! Stompity! Thumpity!), a singsong beat, and a guessing element just easy enough for little ones to anticipate. Marc Brown’s artwork is bright, textured, and joyful, a collage of simple shapes for kids to find and name. So grab a partner and tap your feet to this read-aloud picture-book treat. (Summary from book.)

Materials:

Dancing Feet

Lesson:

Want to get your little ones off on the right foot when it comes to thinking about reading? Read aloud this picture book to introduce questioning to beginning readers. Pause after you read the question for each animal. (“Who is dancing that tippity beat?”) Invite youngsters to look at the animal’s footprints and isolated body parts to predict which animal will be shown on the next page. After thinking about the answer to each question, turn the page and explore one of the movement suggestions below.

animals	movement suggestions
ladybugs	Balance on one foot; then tap feet. (tippity)
elephant	Stomp. (stompity)
ducks	Waddle. (slappity)
caterpillar	Tiptoe. (creepity)
bear	Jump with both feet. (thumpity)
lizard	Tap feet. (clickity)

When youngsters are familiar with the rhythm of the text and movements, vary your speed to help develop their body control and listening skills.

Idea Contributors:

Get up on your feet to show your appreciation for the contributors of this movement lesson—Maria Hanley and Kerry Aradhya. To see more of their great ideas for combining picture books with creative movement, just hop over to their blogs! 

 http://kerryaradhya.blogspot.com

http://mariasmovers.com