3rd Grade
Performing Arts

After being introduced the the musical form called Rondo (ABACADA), the third graders were challenged to create a visual representation of a rondo using random objects found in the performing arts classroom. They also used their amazing drawing skills to create visual rondos.

Each year, the students spend one or two classes in December dedicated to music from the Nutcracker Ballet.  The students review the story of the Nutcracker Ballet and basic information about its composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.  They also study a new piece from the Nutcracker Suite.  This year the third graders focused on The Arabian Dance.  They demonstrated the musical form of the piece (a Rondo!) by acting out different things that you might find in Arabia, such as travelers, snake charmers, pyramid builders, and belly dancers. They also compared and contrasted three different video versions of the dance.

After listening to the book Zigazak by Eric Kimmel, the third graders worked in small groups to act out a scene from the story.

Just before Winter break, the Third Graders spent class time in the following Performing Arts learning stations.