St Patrick’s Day Workshop
Observe
Children will first observe movement from various sources to build an understanding of natural and cultural inspirations for movement.
Traditional Irish Dance (Examples)
- Watch how Riverdance performers use strong, fast footwork.
- Observe the lightness in the skipping movements of a jig.
- Notice the controlled upper body in Irish step dancing.
- See how group formations create patterns and symmetry.
- Identify how dancers bounce on their toes instead of flat-footed walking.
Nature Movements (Examples)
- Watch a river flow – how does its movement change with speed?
- Observe trees swaying in the wind – does a gentle breeze make them move differently from a storm?
- Look at how waves crash and roll – how can we show this in movement?
- See birds soaring or flapping their wings – can we move like them?
- Observe a fox stalking through the grass – slow, deliberate steps vs. sudden bursts of energy.
Mythical Creatures & Legends (Examples)
- Watch how giants are portrayed in stories – slow, heavy stomps with long pauses.
- Notice how leprechauns are described – quick, mischievous movements, darting around.
- Look at selkies (seal people) – how do they glide through the water?
- Examine how warriors like Fionn mac Cumhaill move – strong, powerful, but strategic.
- Imagine the Banshee – eerie, ghostly movements, flowing through space.
Question
Once they have observed movement in different contexts, children will begin to ask questions about how movement tells a story.
Examples of Questions to Ask
- How does a giant step?
- How does a leprechaun run when protecting his gold?
- What happens when a mythical creature moves through different landscapes (hills, caves, forests)?
- How would you show the speed of the salmon of knowledge?
- How does a fairy move compared to a human?
- How does a warrior prepare for battle?
- Can movement be soft and strong at the same time?
- How do animals in myths (horses, deer, wolves) move differently from real animals?
- How does a stormy sea make a selkie move differently from calm waters?
- If a Banshee is warning someone, how might her movement be different from when she is simply wandering?
Test
Children will explore loco-motor (traveling) and non-loco motor (stationary) movements to embody Irish myths.
Loco-motor Movements (Examples – Traveling Movement)
- Jumping like a salmon leaping upstream.
- Stomping like a giant, shaking the earth.
- Skipping like a leprechaun, quick and light-footed.
- Gliding like a selkie, smooth and fluid.
- Dashing like a warrior, charging forward.
- Sneaking like a fairy, tiptoeing unseen.
- Ducking and weaving like a hunted deer.
- Rolling like a wave, moving unpredictably.
- Swinging arms like tree branches in the wind.
- Flying like an enchanted bird, moving between human and bird form.
Non-Locomotor Movements (Examples – Stationary Movement)
- Bending and stretching like a tree caught in the wind.
- Spinning like a whirlwind, fast then slow.
- Swaying like seaweed, moving gently with the tide.
- Shuddering like a Banshee’s wail, trembling with energy.
- Holding a strong warrior stance, Frozen yet full of power.
- Floating like a misty spirit, rising and falling.
- Rocking like a boat, steady but unpredictable.
- Twirling fingers like sparks of magic in a fairy spell.
- Pulling an invisible object, showing strength without sound.
- Collapsing like an exhausted traveler, sinking to the ground.
Discover
Children experiment with combining movements to develop their own interpretations of the myths.
Examples of Discovery Activities
- Combine a giant’s heavy steps with the light, sneaky movements of a fairy – what happens?
- Try mixing fast and slow movements – what effect does this create?
- See how different body parts can tell a story – can a selkie move differently in the sea vs. on land?
- Explore contrast – How does a warrior move before battle, during battle, and after victory?
- Try exaggerating a movement – if a leprechaun is in a hurry, how much faster can they move?
- Use breath to guide movement – what happens when you breathe heavily like a warrior or lightly like a fairy?
- How do movements change when working in pairs or groups?
- Can two different mythical beings interact in movement? (Example: A warrior and a banshee)
- What happens when we add different levels? (Jumping high like a salmon vs. crawling low like a fox)
- Explore emotions in movement – how does a warrior’s movements change when they are tired or joyful?
Record
Children document their movement discoveries in different ways.
Ways to Record Movement
- Create a short movement sequence to retell a part of an Irish legend.
- Draw pathways of their movement (swirling, zigzagging, curving).
- Use symbols to show different types of movement (slow, fast, flowing, jerky).
- Make a movement map – trace how they moved through the space.
- Record a video to replay and reflect on movements.
- Describe the movement with words – “My warrior moved like this… my banshee floated like this…”
- Act out the same movement in different ways – strong, soft, exaggerated, gentle.
- Use props to extend movement (fabric for a selkie’s transformation, a stick for a warrior’s sword).
- Pair up and show each other movements, then describe what they see.
- Compare two different movements – how is a giant’s step different from a leprechaun’s?
Discuss & Reflect
Children share their experiences and reflect on what they learned.
Reflection Questions
- Which movement felt most powerful to you?
- Which was the most difficult movement to perform?
- How did it feel to move like a mythical creature?
- How does movement help us tell stories without words?
- What movement surprised you the most?
- How does movement help us imagine different places and characters?
- Which movement made you feel strongest? Most mysterious? Most sneaky?
- How did your movement change when working with others?
- What do you want to explore more?
- If you could move like any creature from mythology for a whole day, who would it be and why?
Re-question
Children revisit their inquiry, considering new challenges and possibilities.
Further Exploration
- What happens if we add music? Does it change how we move?
- Can we use movement to tell an entire legend? What if there are no words?
- How does a movement sequence change if we use props?
- Can we use movement to explore different landscapes? How do we move through a storm vs. a forest?
- How do different cultures use movement in mythology and dance?
- What happens if two different mythical creatures meet? How do their movements interact?
- Can we create a group movement story? Everyone plays a different role.
- What if we switch roles? A warrior moves like a fairy, a banshee moves like a leprechaun.
- Can movement show magic? What does a spell look like through movement?
