Wednesday was a balancing act for Trista Schaeffer’s third-grade class at Glacier Gateway Elementary in Columbia Falls.

With desks pushed aside and chairs stacked against the wall, the third graders warmed up with stretches and calm breaths before putting their focus into balancing moves under the guidance of dance instructor Jennifer Walker Wyatt of Columbia Falls.

“There’s a lot to learn through movement,” Walker Wyatt said.

Walker Wyatt has been instructing kindergarten through third-graders once a week since November as part of the Montana Model Dance Education Program, better known as MoDE. She will finish her residency at the school in February. Walker Wyatt has been coming to Glacier Gateway for four years.

Part of the CoMotion Dance Project at the University of Montana College of Visual and Performing Arts, the mission of MoDE is integrate dance into classroom learning.

“I’m teaching them basic dance elements, how to be in their body using space, using time and then that also helps them work in groups, cooperate and come up with their own ideas in a creative way,” Walker Wyatt said.

Dance is a creative outlet that helps students express themselves.

“Some kids are kinesthetically really, really smart, so it’s another avenue for kids to excel,” Walker Wyatt said. “It’s learning how to use the body in a different way. They are refining what they can do in their bodies from walking to balancing to skipping.”

“I was a kinesthetic learner when I was a kid. I learn quickly through movement and I love to share that with other kids because sometimes people aren’t aware that that is an intelligence in itself.”

Schaeffer watched her students spread out across the room and balance on one leg with arms outstretched. She pointed out that in addition to balance, pattern and cooperation, her students were practicing awareness of their bodies and personal space.

“They have to be self-aware. And they’re using their listening skills. It’s more structured then recess. They don’t have to be part of games and compete, they can focus on their own success,” Schaeffer said, giving an example of touching their toes or coming up with a dance move to inspire classmates.

Schaeffer said this is the first time MoDE has come into her classroom. After seeing MoDE at work last year, she was excited to have Walker Wyatt work with her students.

“I just saw how beneficial it was just to get them up off their feet and clear their brains a little bit from the craziness of the school day,” Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer added that her students benefit from moving throughout the day and she tries to incorporate movement daily, even if it’s just standing and stretching.

“I can’t sit still for three hours [at a time] and I don’t expect them to,” Schaeffer said.

Walker Wyatt has the class form a large circle. Standing in the middle she asked for a partner.

“Sometimes balances are easier with a friend. She’s going to mock me and follow me and we’re going to use each other to help counterbalance ourselves. We’re trying to hold our balance and we’re just moving in a way, exploring together,” Walker Wyatt said.

With their hands together and arms slightly bent outward, Walker Wyatt leads the student who mirrors her movements. Both teacher and student bend their knee upward and circle it outstretched to the right, back and down. After demonstrating, students paired up and took turns leading different moves.

“So you have attention. You have focus,” Walker Wyatt said, walking between the pairs. “Now lift that leg high and see if can hold it for 20 seconds.”

In the final activity, students split up into groups and were tasked with selecting two body parts to create simple, repetitive movements.

“Do something easy, something you can repeat. OK, dancers, let’s see a lot of creativity,” Walker Wyatt said.

Each group then performed its choreographed moves in front of the class.

After settling back into a circle, Walker Wyatt reviewed concepts they have been learning — improvisation, choreography balance and focus. Then, they talked about opportunities and ways they can use focus in life and during school.

Before moving to their next class, third-graders Ruby Davis and Hunter Goodman talked about their favorite part of MoDE.

“We’ve been learning about a whole bunch of different stuff like balancing, fast and slow, improvisation,” Goodman said. “I like moving fast and slow. I think it helps me relax.”

“I like balancing,” Davis said. “I like standing on one leg. It’s just fun.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.