Dance Lesson Plans
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Each lesson plan listing below includes the target grades, the title, a summary of the activity, and the Arts Toolkit resource used. Click on the title for the full lesson plan.
Primary
P-5
Exploring Force
Students explore the basic dance element of force through movement activities and discussion.
Video: Arabian and Chinese Dances from The Nutcracker
K-2
Locomotor Patterns
Through a nursery rhyme and folk dance, students explore origins of food. Students perform dances based on a pattern and create a dance using the same pattern.
K-3
The Story of Wheat
Students learn the story of wheat as they explore its significance in the lives of pioneers and in their own lives.
K-5
Sharp and Smooth Movements
Students explore sharp and smooth movements.
Video: Arabian and Chinese Dances from The Nutcracker
1-5
Cultural and Historical Meaning
Students perform a folk dance and discuss its cultural and historical meanings.
Video: Little Johnny Brown
Intermediate
K-5
Sharp and Smooth Movements
Students explore sharp and smooth movements.
Video: Arabian and Chinese Dances from The Nutcracker
1-5
Cultural and Historical Meaning
Students perform a folk dance and discuss its cultural and historical meanings.
Video: Little Johnny Brown
4-5
Locomotor/Non-Locomotor Movements
Students perform a folk dance and learn about locomotor and non-locomotor movements.
Video: Little Johnny Brown
4-8
Analyzing Two Dances and Making a Dance Map
Students watch and analyze the Arabian and Chinese dances from The Nutcracker and then create a dance map.
Video: Arabian and Chinese Dances from The Nutcracker
Middle
4-8
Analyzing Two Dances and Making a Dance Map
Students watch and analyze the Arabian and Chinese dances from The Nutcracker and then create a dance map.
Video: Arabian and Chinese Dances from The Nutcracker
6-8
Dance and Community Values
Students perform a folk dance and learn about its cultural and historical meaning.
Video: Little Johnny Brown
6-8
Creating a Movement Sequence
Students analyze two dances from The Nutcracker and get an understanding of how choreographers create dances by creating short movement sequences for familiar characters.
Video: Arabian and Chinese Dances from The Nutcracker
6-8
Creating an ABA-Form Dance
Students create an ABA-form dance using sharp and smooth movements.
Video: Arabian and Chinese Dances from The Nutcracker
6-8
Dancing with a Purpose
Students will perform the folk dance “Little Johnny Brown” and discuss its historical and cultural meanings.
Video: Little Johnny Brown
6-12
Understanding Tap
Students demonstrate rhythm through clapping and tapping and improvise “conversations” through tap.
Video: DanceSense Program 10: Tap and Percussive Dance
6-12
Funky Tap
Students research and discuss the history, characteristics, and art of tap, then create a performance critique that they will use as they watch a tap performance.
Video: DanceSense Program 10: Tap and Percussive Dance
Video: Jamaica Funk
The following lesson plans are not part of the Arts Toolkit:
6-12
Three Activities: Africa in the Classroom
This three-part assignment asks students to explore African visual arts, create a dance with traditional African elements, and research the history of Kente cloth and experiment with a web-based weaving.
High
6-12
Understanding Tap
Students demonstrate rhythm through clapping and tapping and improvise “conversations” through tap.
Video: DanceSense Program 10: Tap and Percussive Dance
6-12
Funky Tap
Students research and discuss the history, characteristics, and art of tap, then create a performance critique that they will use as they watch a tap performance.
Video: DanceSense Program 10: Tap and Percussive Dance
Video: Jamaica Funk
9-12
Creating a Contemporary Ritual Dance
Students view and discuss the dance “Little Johnny Brown” and then create a dance signifying a contemporary “ritual.”
Video: Little Johnny Brown
The following lesson plans are not part of the Arts Toolkit:
6-12
Three Activities: Africa in the Classroom
This three-part assignment asks students to explore African visual arts, create a dance with traditional African elements, and research the history of Kente cloth and experiment with a web-based weaving.