Alphabet Series: The Letter I

I is for Island

I am always on the lookout for books about islands. Exploring the concept and imagery of islands, within a dance class, is a great way to talk about self-space and general space. It also goes hand in hand with the concepts of stationary/axial movement and traveling/locomotor movement. 

An Island Grows, by Lola M. Schaefer with illustrations by Cathie Felstead, is a picture book telling the story of how volcanic islands form. The book begins "beneath the sea," and ends with an island inhabited by people. 

You might not make a dance about the story, per se, but the book can be a nice introduction to a lesson for students in K-2 classes.

Pull out your hula hoops to give each student in class an "island" to explore – dancing on the island, off the island, and around the island.

I – "I am a Dancer"

While studying "I," share the book I am a Dancer. This picture book is a great introductory book for PreK-1 students about dance.

I is for Isadora

Rachel Isadora wrote a book about one of the icons and founders of modern dance, Isadora Duncan. Check out this biographical picture book.  

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