Activity:           Nutcracker Ballet

Skills:               observation, respect, intentional movement, counting to beat

Materials:         Nutcracker audiotape

Procedure:

1. Read: The Nutcracker Ballet by Deborah Hautzig.
2. Play music for children. Discuss what they are hearing and introduce the concepts of beat and tempo.
3. When the music is finished, ask children how the music makes them feel.
4. Play the music again so children can express the beat, tempo and feelings they interpret by dancing around the room.
5. Later, children can teach others their dance or watch each other perform.

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