Kindy Jam!

 Jump Jam has been a very popular dance and fitness activity here at Bream Bay Kindergarten. 

For those of you that don't know, Jump Jam is an aerobic programme created by 2x World Aerobic Champion Brett Fairweather and is well known and loved by kiwi kids throughout New Zealand.

Thinking about what we could do to extend the children’s interest in Jump Jam, we wondered if tamariki would want to create their own version…

The answer was yes and Kindy Jam was born!

The first step we took in creating our own version was to play music. 

Our intention was to listen to different songs and let the magic happen by; creating different moves, singing along, allowing our bodies to feel the beat, and laughing and having fun.

While children were dancing, they were able to pin point some songs to use and develop moves they liked.

During this process children decided a move they liked and put pen to paper, drawing symbols to represent their movements. 

At first the children struggled with the concept of a symbol to represent a dance move and were instead drawing an image of the person. 

After some discussion of what a symbol looked like, the tamariki gained greater understanding and it was all go.

Time to get to work...

Creating symbols to represent dance moves

 Te Whariki (2017) states “Languages are the means by which we think and communicate with each other. We typically think of languages consisting of words, sentences and stories but there are also languages of sign, mathematics, visual imagery, art, dance, drama, rhythm, music and movement.”

 

Once we had created a few basic moves, it was time to move onto creating routines with a chosen song. 

During this time tamariki listened to music, shared their thoughts on what move should be used, and added new symbols to the choreography. 

This was a great opportunity for children to listen to music, to notice what the beat and tempo sounded and felt like, then add movements  that connected with the tempo of the routine.

 

“Children are born into a world of sound and movement. Music helps their intellectual, imaginative, emotional, social and cultural growth.”

-Ministry of Education

 After creating our new Kindy Jam routines, tamariki then had the opportunity to explain how to do the different dance moves through their words and pictures. 

Using children's work, a booklet was developed to showcase the 5 choreographed dances that were created.

“Open and shut.”

Words and pictures by Vann.

 

“Feet on the ground, feet together, cross your legs, feet together, cross other legs.”

Words and pictures by Harvey.

Next level...

Part of this project involved making our own Kindy Jam video.

Tamariki had a fantastic time working on this and loved seeing themselves and their dance moves on the big screen.

Due to copyright, we are unable to share this video however, it's well worth the look...come and check it out at kindergarten.

Arohanui, Lauren.