Activating Learning by Milling to Music
When students pretend they鈥檙e at a fancy party making small talk, a simple brainstorm for writing ideas becomes more lively, more cooperative鈥攁nd more effective.
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Go to My Saved Content.There is a strong body of research indicating the benefits of movement and activity in the classroom. When combined with cooperative tasks, they can be a potent tool for learning. At Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School in Gatineau, Quebec, third- and fourth-grade teacher Fiona Medley uses a playful strategy to get kids up out of their chairs and participating: She lets them wander around and chat about ideas with each other鈥攚hile playing music. Although she also employs traditional reading and writing activities to help her students develop language skills, Medley relies on music, movement, and other arts integration strategies to teach vocabulary, story structure, and active listening. When it comes time to write, students are inspired, creative, and more focused.
To learn more about the research behind the practices seen in the video, check out the links below.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics鈥� (2018)
- Kayleigh Skene, Christine M. O鈥橣arrelly, Elizabeth M. Byrne, Natalie Kirby, Eloise C. Stevens, and Paul G. Ramchandani鈥檚 (2022)
- Rachel Parker, Bo Stjerne Thomsen, and Amy Berry鈥檚 (2022)
- Luca Petrigna et al.鈥檚 (2022)
- Lukas Mundelsee and Susanne Jurkowski鈥檚 (2021)
- Suzanne F. Lindt and Stacia C. Miller鈥檚 (2017)
- Ella Shoval and Boaz Shulruf鈥檚 (2011)
The was developed by educator Jeanne Gibbs.