States of Matter Show

“The States of Matter Show” is an informal community showing of dances created and performed by four (4) third grade classes at Arbor Elementary in Euclid, OH.
Dancer, Teaching Artist, Tom Evert, has served as an artist-in-residence working with the students in an Arts-Integrated approach to studying the state academic standards in dance and science.   The residency with Mr. Evert has consisted of 7 meetings with students and a rehearsal for this performance.  The classroom teacher has reinforced lessons done with the artist in their own classroom instruction between the dance lessons.  We have examined the States of Matter (solid, liquid, gas) and demonstrated with movement our understanding of their principles and properties . We have also studied Forms of Energy particularly solar energy and its importance to life on earth.

Mr. Evert will also offer a Professional Development workshop with the faculty.  Teachers will participate making connections with the arts and core curriculum and creating similar experiences in their classroom.

RESULTS
Due to the lively and whole-bodily approach of working creatively with movement it has enhanced the student’s engagement in science, nurtured social-emotional learning and engages the whole school community around this cultural event.  DANCE EVERT has been partnering with Arbor School for 5 years and this project has served as a model to develop future programming in this arts learning setting.