Magic and Whimsy Series: The Falling Flowers

I stumbled upon this book at my school's library today, and the story inspired me! It is a book from 2005 entitled The Falling Flowers, by Jennifer B. Reed and Dick Cole.

In modern day Japan, a young girl and her grandmother are "heading somewhere." The grandmother doesn't give away where they are headed. They journey through the city, passing familar places. 

In the end, they end up in front of a grove of blooming cherry trees – a magical place of pink and falling pedals. The story says that in Japan the trees only look like this for about one week each year.

For the sophisticated dance teacher, you could create a dance of magic and whimsy with students in 2nd-5th grades. For the first part of the story, the text inspires me to create a "map dance" of the city and explore different pathways.

For the second part of the story, when the girl and her grandmother find the blossoming cherry trees, I see the students embodying the idea of "pink" and elegant, delicate trees and blossoms. You could get each student artificial cherry tree branches at a craft store, or give students long pieces of pink fabric. 

The story, and your dance, can capture a beautiful and special moment in time.