I am beginning my 25th year of teaching and this was by far the best thing I have EVER done. I am always looking for new songs and music to enhance my Physical Education program, and I like to go out into the community to give our students the opportunity to perform to large crowds, with the hope that doing so will influence their self-confidence, along with bringing good will to our community and promoting love all over the world, no matter how we look or where we are from!

In the world we live in, I want to always focus on LOVE, so I was searching for a wonderful song and came up with Love Train (by the O'Jays) as the lyrics are so beautiful, and I believe it is the message we want for our students. I made up the dance moves to fit children ages Kindergarten through 5th grade. The exciting part is that I decided to call the athletic director at Midwestern State University and ask if we could perform at half-time of one of their home college football games. He said, YES!

So, I came to the realization that my students would perform in front of over 2,000 people! I invited them to dress up as children from around the world, and their costumes were just incredible--mostly things from their own closets, as I don't like parents to spend $$ on costumes. Here are the moves that I made up for the dance:

LOVE TRAIN DANCE STEPS

- People all over the world, join hands, form a love train, love train. Make a large world with arms and then join hands and the lines move in opposite direction.
- The next stop. Arm circle point to right
- Don't you know. Train 4 x
- All you brothers in Africa POINT across body
- Please don't miss this train. Train 4 x
- People all over the world join hands.
- Music only. Count 8 fwd. then count 8 backwards ( twice) and then raise arms up as you move forward and back down as you move backwards.
- People all over the world join hands, make a love train, love train! ONLY ONE TIME then hands on shoulders and walk off field and wave to crowd as you do!

Video

Teaching Suggestions/Tips:

Practice, practice and more practice. Encourage the children saying, "You are not doing this for you, but for all the thousands of people in the stands to promote world peace and love!"

I encourage all PE teachers to contact their local university to ask to do performances on this large platform!

My advice to other teachers would be, Reach for the STARS! I never ever thought that my students would be performing at a college football game! I say, "Go straight to the top (Athletic Director) to ask!"

Email this best practice!