Dancing through the Pumpkin Patch
Dancing through the Pumpkin Patch
Introduce your dancers ages 6–10 to ballet terminology in a fun, engaging way with Pathways to Terminology™, part of the Dance to Learn® Ballet Curriculum. In this pumpkin patch-themed resource, students dance through the pumpkin patch to discover four foundational ballet words: Tendu (stretch), Piqué (prick), Pas de Bourrée (bourrée step), and Rond de Jambe (circle of the leg). Each term is paired with creative pumpkin patch imagery that helps dancers connect the meaning and mechanics of ballet vocabulary to movement—from shovels that glide through the dirt for tendu and water droplets that lightly prick the ground for piqué, to pumpkin vines that link steps together for pas de bourrée and round pumpkins that inspire the circular pathway of rond de jambe.
This comprehensive curriculum includes a student maze workbook, imagery posters, poetic movement activities, and video demonstrations featuring age-appropriate progressions and combinations for both Intro to Ballet and Ballet 1 dancers. Each activity builds upon developing ballet technique while using imagery, movement, and repetition to make new vocabulary easier for young dancers to understand and remember. Perfect for dance teachers looking to blend artistry, creativity, and ballet technique, Pathways to Terminology™: Dancing Through the Pumpkin Patch turns learning ballet vocabulary into an imaginative journey through the pumpkin patch.
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Spiral Bound Student Worksheet Book
Your Student Pathways to Terminology™ Mazes are secured in a beautiful spiral-bound workbook with easy tear-out pages, making it simple to distribute activities to your dancers throughout the unit. There are 4 Mazes, one for each of the 4 Ballet Terminology Words, with 20 copies of each Maze.
The 4 Dancing Through the Pumpkin Patch Pathways to Terminology™ Mazes include:
- Week 1: Tendu - Students search for the terminology word as they dig their way through a shovel-shaped maze.
- Week 2: Piqué - Students follow the drops of water through a watering can maze to reveal their terminology word.
- Week 3: Pas de Bourrée - Students follow the twisting and turning pumpkin vines to discover their terminology word.
- Week 4: Rond de Jambe - Dancers travel around a round pumpkin-shaped maze to uncover their final terminology word.
Imagery and Poetic Posters
The Dancing Through the Pumpkin Patch Pathways to Terminology™ Curriculum includes 8 16x12-inch gloss posters. 4 posters feature each Terminology Word paired with its Pumpkin Patch Imagery—Tendu like a shovel, Piqué like a watering can, Pas de Bourrée like a pumpkin vine, and Rond de Jambe like a pumpkin. The remaining 4 posters include a Poem designed to inspire improvisation, creative exploration, and thematic-based movement as dancers bring each ballet term to life through the pumpkin patch.
- Week 1: Tendu - Week 1 includes a shovel imagery poster and a poetic movement poster designed to inspire movement and exploration through tendu.
- Week 2: Piqué - Week 2 includes a watering can imagery poster and a poetic movement poster designed to inspire movement and exploration through piqué.
- Week 3: Pas de Bourrée - Week 3 includes a pumpkin vine imagery poster and a poetic movement poster designed to inspire connected movement and exploration through pas de bourrée.
- Week 4: Rond de Jambe - Week 4 includes a pumpkin imagery poster and a poetic movement poster designed to inspire circular movement and exploration through rond de jambe.
16 Video Demonstrations of Ballet Combos
Your Pathways to Terminology™ – Dancing Through the Pumpkin Patch Curriculum also includes 16 demonstration videos featuring a Progressive Ballet Syllabus that begins with Intro to Ballet and progresses to Ballet 1.
Intro to Ballet demonstrations are recommended for dancers ages 6–8, while Ballet 1 exercises are recommended for dancers ages 8–10. Each demonstration incorporates the Pumpkin Patch terminology and imagery—Tendu, Piqué, Pas de Bourrée, and Rond de Jambe—with age-appropriate progressions that help dancers build technique, vocabulary, and movement understanding as they advance through the curriculum.
- Week 1: Tendu - Intro to Ballet and Ballet 1 dancers explore tendu using shovel imagery to develop foot articulation and control.
- Week 2: Piqué - Water droplet imagery helps dancers explore the quick, precise action of piqué.
- Week 3: Pas de Bourrée - Dancers use pumpkin vine imagery to connect the small, precise steps of pas de bourrée.
- Week 4: Rond de Jambe - Pumpkin imagery helps dancers explore turnout and the circular pathway of demi-rond de jambe.
Physical Items Shipped Separately |
Must Provide a Valid US Shipping Address |
We are unable to Ship Internationally
Frequently Asked Questions
- 4 Terminology Mazes (1 Maze for each of the 4 Terminology Words).
There are 20 copies of each Maze.
4 Posters include the Weekly Imagery.
4 Posters include the Poetic Movement Prompt
https://www.canva.com/help/get-started-canva-print/
We do not Ship Internationally.
The Downloadable Printable Resources include:
- 4 Mazes
- 4 Imagery Posters
- 4 Poetic Movement Posters
- Additionally, Summaries of each Video Demonstration includes a printable guide.