Year R have begun practising and developing their gross motor skills within their art lessons. The children will now be taking part in weekly Write Dance (style) and art activities aimed to strengthen muscle groups and improve the children’s agility.
Within our first Write Dance session, we concentrated on making large round shapes with both arms; the theme was Bubbles.
Starting in the classroom, we practised a short dance that involved creating imaginary bubbles (circular movements with both arms) and then popping them. We then performed our routine to the song ‘Happiness’.
Working on large-scale paper with wax crayons and using chalk outside on the playground, pupils drew large and small-scale circular shapes using both arms individually and simultaneously. Later, the children had fun popping real bubbles!
Last week, after a dance, the children cleaned the exterior classroom windows with sponges and squeegees and played with shaving foam. We focussed on zigzags, circles and up and down motions.
Gross motor skills are those using the children’s whole bodies. Practising specific movements strengthens muscles and helps children to become increasingly confident, agile and flexible. These skills are essential and must be obtained before going on to develop fine motor skills and learning to write and draw.
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