- Definition
Movement vocabulary is simply all the different ways your child can move their body, like walking, jumping, or spinning, which they can then use to create a dance.
In ballet, a plié (bending the knees) and a jeté (a leap) are part of the movement vocabulary.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A movement vocabulary is like a box of building blocks, where each block is a different dance move you can use to create something new.
Ask your child: If you were a robot, what moves would be in your vocabulary?
Common mix-up: Kids might think dancing is just wiggling around freely. A movement vocabulary is a set of specific moves, like spinning or leaping, that a dancer learns and can use to create.
Examples
- A child's personal movement vocabulary might include spinning, hopping, and sliding across the floor.
- Creating a 'robot dance' involves using a movement vocabulary of stiff, jerky actions.
movement vocabulary is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
