Renowned educator Marcia Daft debuts a new series based on the technique of arts-integrated instruction in this DVD that teaches viewers about the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. The program begins with an introduction directed to educators and parents explaining the basic concepts of arts integrated instruction. The first of five chapters draws in the children and provides them with the three rules for music and movement—dance space, personal space, and listening and moving to the music. In the next segment, each of the eight steps of the Monarch’s life cycle is presented through live nature footage explained by Daft. She then plays a brief piece of music that has the same feel as the stage in the cycle. Next, Daft and the children create movements to accompany the music and represent what happens during that stage in the life cycle. In chapter 3, the children dance the complete life cycle while verbal and visual cues are given. Part 4 features Daft leading the children through a draw-and-tell activity detailing the butterfly’s life cycle. The final segment provides the music of the life cycle for performance purposes. This fascinating, unique approach to teaching will be a welcome addition to grade school or home school collections.
–Veronica De Fazio, Plainfield Public Library District, IL
