ARTS FIRST™ Toolkit K - 5 Volcanoes - Dance/Music - Grade 3 INTRODUCTION
The Hot Spot
I love to use the volcano as a theme when I work with children. It is a powerful visual stimulus because it’s full of action. It’s beautiful yet terrifying. For those of us living in the Hawaiian Islands, this is something unique that we have here so I like to take advantage of this.
Volcanoes are not specific to Hawai'i but it is a phenomenon that occurs around the world. It is a powerful image from nature. It gives us lots of movement and sparks our creativity. It generates the desire to create as nature is doing.
This third lesson in the series is a culmination of sorts to the work covered in lessons one (Pele and Namaka) and two (Fire Dance). In this lesson students explore the concept of the hot spot theory in the creation of the Hawaiian Islands through creative dance. Students then create and play music to complement the dance and also as a means to cue dancers to transitions. Students develop their sense of rhythm and dynamics as well as attuned to playing together as a group.
The following Grade 3 performance indicators are addressed:
3.1 - The student identifies and applies the elements, materials, and technology in each of the arts to create and present work.
3.2 - The student maintains focus on his/her own role or contribution while performing.
3.6 - The student creates compositions, scenes, and artworks that communicate ideas, experiences, and stories.
