Miss Annie

Turkey Dance Freeze

Lesson description

Part 1:

In part one of a two-part series, students will use movements and imagination to become a turkey.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • Demonstrate understanding of movement words through mimicking.
  • Practice good listening skills by following directions.
  • Increase fine and gross motor skills through movements.
  • Learn the three components of a story: beginning, middle, and end.
Part 2:

In part two of a two-part series, students meet Timmy Turkey and learn about his many colors.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • Demonstrate good listening skills through call and repeat.
  • Recall elements of a story.
  • Be able to name colors.

Lesson Resources

Artist Bio

Annie Wilson

Puppeteer, Wolf Trap Teaching Artist

Puppets Talk, Students Listen: Creative Collaboration and Critical Thinking Through Language Arts, Storytelling, Puppetry, and Music, Teaching artist and puppeteer Miss Annie effectively uses the art of storytelling and puppetry to encourage creative and critical thinking. The students actively engage in the process of creating stories and puppets that support and connect to the Arizona Standards and curriculum. At home in Arizona, Miss Annie is a Wolf Trap and a Molly Blank Arizona State University Grady Gammage teaching artist. Miss Annie has presented teacher personal development workshops and partnered with Head Start teachers and students from pre-K through grade 5. She presented to the University of Arizona School of Medicine “The Surgeon as a Puppeteer,” comparing the similarities of skills needed for both professions. Puppetry and storytelling took Miss Annie to Japan as she worked with children, educators, and business professionals to tell and share their stories. Miss Annie, with her company of Louie and Friends, worked with approximately 1,500, pre-K and kindergarten students over a three -week period as a representative of the Phoenix Sister Cities. Louie, Annie’s puppet, lives in a saguaro cactus condo with his many friends in the Sonoran Desert. Students demonstrate knowledge of environmental, math, and science topics of the Southwest desert through collaborative efforts, while enjoying the opportunity to use their creativity and imagination. As director of the Arts Academy for the American Schools Corporation (Windermere, Florida, private school), Miss Annie provided training and developed performing arts after-school enrichment programs. She traveled to Windermere, England, to establish a sister satellite program with the Florida Windermere Preparatory School. In Monterey, California, Miss Annie and Louie piloted a children’s story-writing class that was offered every Friday evening at the Barnes & Noble bookstore. Louie and Friends received the Wolf Trap Institute Silver Medallion Award for two audiotapes of music and activities for children. Miss Annie brings to the table experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm. She is a motivator with a positive attitude, aptitude, and passion for the integration of arts in the classroom.