Music filled the air at Terra Linda Elementary School as first grade students stepped onto the dance floor, transforming their school into a royal ballroom for a day. The school hosted its first grade Cinderella Ball, a special event designed as the grand finale to a unit in the District’s Wit & Wisdom English Language Arts curriculum. The unique lesson goes beyond the traditional fairy tale, teaching students to explore and analyze what people around the world admire about Cinderella’s character—such as resilience, kindness, and perseverance.

To bring the global literature unit to life, students traded in their usual school clothes for fancy attire, including sparkling crowns, tiaras, and ballgowns. The event was a family affair, with parents and older siblings asked to join their first-graders as their royal dance partners. Teachers taught everyone how to dance the Waltz.

Connecting physical activities such as dance and dress-up to classroom texts helps younger students engage more deeply with the reading material, making the core virtues of the curriculum both memorable and impactful.

Thank you to the teachers and staff at Terra Linda Elementary School for putting together such an incredible and memorable event for students and families.