To get the most out of movement-based, arts-integrated learning, it helps to have a few essential materials ready to go. These tools aren’t fancy or expensive—they’re practical, tactile, and designed to support curiosity and creativity in action. When students are invited to physically explore academic concepts, having the right objects on hand can make the experience smoother, more meaningful, and a whole lot more fun.

Here’s a basic list to get started:

• Student Worksheets – For taking notes, sketching shapes, recording measurements, and writing reflections.
• Pencils & Pencil Sharpener – The basics, but don’t underestimate how often you’ll need them!
• Large Protractor – Great for whole-class demonstrations of angles and arcs.
• Small Protractors – Individual or small-group use to support geometry-based movement.
• Tape Measure (Extending to 70 inches) – Helpful for perimeter, area, and body-based measurement activities.
• Ten Dowel Rods (with red tape on one end) – These become arms, angles, sides of shapes, or tools for visualizing symmetry and direction.
• Four Pieces of Long, Flowing Fabric (5–8 feet long) – Perfect for exploring patterns, pathways, and dynamics. They bring movement to life and provide visual cues for spatial concepts.
• Green or Blue Masking Tape – Use to create temporary floor shapes, grids, or pathways. It lifts easily and keeps the space adaptable.
• Music & Speaker – Arguably the heart of it all. Music creates mood, sets the pace, and offers structure or freedom depending on your goal.

When selecting music, variety is key. Popular music invites familiarity and connection. Students may feel seen and heard when songs they know show up in the classroom. Classical music adds emotional depth and complexity, perfect for slow movement, stretching, and reflective exploration. Simple instrumental tracks offer clarity and flexibility for improvisation, math-based movement tasks, or science-inspired explorations of energy and force.

Whether you’re working in a traditional classroom, studio, or community center, these materials help create a responsive environment where students can explore academic ideas through motion. Think of them as both anchors and launch pads—keeping kids grounded in content while giving them freedom to move, discover, and grow.