“Secrets of the Heart”

Professional Development – For Teachers K-2

"Secrets of the Heart" teacher training is a professional development workshop for up to 75 teachers with combined dance and music components for teachers K-2. Teachers are offered specific tools and instructional tasks to merge the value of curriculum in arts learning with social and cultural understanding. This training aligns with Visual and Performing Arts Framework standards.

In this one-hour workshop, which is a favorite of teachers, participants learn a Liberian folk song taught in the languages of Liberia and Yoruba, spoken in Nigeria and areas of West Africa. They also learn its presentation in dance. They learn its meaning and history and then how they can use that same rhythm to create an original song with their classes. Both dance and music are conducted to the live rhythm of African drumming. This workshop connects with key concepts from early elementary curriculum – particularly the concepts of friendship and kindness. Teachers will leave with links to internet resources.

This workshop can be expanded to two one hour presentations, one for dance and one for music, accompanied by printed curriculum materials which provide tasks for children that relate to the arts and link to listening/speaking, history and geography. This two hour version is geared for teachers and arts coordinators. Participants leave with internet links to resources. This can be presented sequentially or can be conducted in two sessions.

We’ve had teachers ask their principal if they could do this once a week. It’s energizing, expands teacher skills and is lots of fun.

Please email Bunny Hull for pricing of all programs.

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“Heroes Project”

Professional Development – Dance and Music Components

(This program is not currently available.)

"Heroes Project" is a professional development workshop for teachers with separate "Dance" and "Music" components and a unique framework suitable for teachers and arts coordinators at all grade levels. Teachers are offered specific tools and instructional tasks to fuse the value and impact of academic rigor in curriculum in arts learning with Language Arts, Literature, History and Social Studies, that are aligned with Visual and Performing Arts Framework standards. Each component training session includes a 20-page booklet and a Dance Component video and Music Component CD. Each "Dance" and"Music" workshop session is 2-hours in length, and can be conducted sequentially or over a period of time. Together we can make a difference in the lives of our young people ­ our future arts innovators and leaders!

Dance Component

The dance component helps teachers connect themes presented through dance as a springboard to standards-based learning in core subjects. This dance component provides arts integration to "Language Arts" and "Listening/Speaking" with possible links to "History" and "Social Studies."

Music Component

The music component helps teachers connect universal feelings or ideas through music by using original songs that explore the theme of heroes. It provides arts integration to "Language Arts" and "Listening/Speaking" with the potential for links to

History and "Social Studies."

Dance workshops are conducted by Bonnie Oda Homsey.
Music workshops are conducted by Bunny Hull.

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