The primary movers: Kinesthetic learning for primary school children

The birth of the cognitive sciences gave rise to a new framework from which to understand how learning occurs, and dance plays a multi-faceted role. This thesis validates its inclusion in academic curricula in primary school. It begins with an overview of the history of dance in American education. It then provides a theoretical basis for including dance in school curricula by exploring its effects physically, psychologically, socially and cognitively. Focus is given to the vital role that kinesthetic stimulation plays in cognitive learning processes, giving priority to the work of Piaget and Howard Gardner. A variety of current dance programs in state public school curricula are analyzed, finishing with an examination of the changing national agenda for the arts in education--examining the Clinton administration's new "Goals 2000," and the National Standards and Assessments for Arts Education which include dance as a viable tool for growth and learning.