This lesson teaches finger movements for Spanish flamenco castanets

Title – Dances Around the World
By – Michelle Ryan
Primary Subject – Health / Physical Education
Grade Level – Pre-K

Activity:

Flamenco finger taps

Fine Motor:

Hand-eye coordination

Objectives:

have children tap Spanish castanets working on small muscle movements of fingers and hands, introduction to geography

Equipment:

Boom box, flamenco music, world map, and pictures of dancers and equipment

Procedure:

• Each child will be given a set of castanets
• Explain how the dancers touch their finger together to make the instrument ring
• First have children try with just their fingers – thumb to middle finger
• Add castanets and try ringing a few times
• Add music and ring to the beat
• See if children can ring castanets with fingers and stomp their feet at the same time like dancers
• Pair children and have one child be ring the castanets while and the other stomps their feet to the beat
• Switch actions

Assessments:

• Are children able to put thumb and middle finger together
• Are children able to find and name Spain on the map
• Are children able tap fingers together with castanets
• Are children able to stomp their feet

Children with Disabilities

Activity can be performed if child has little or no impairment of fine motor skill function

E-Mail Michelle Ryan !