Movement and Elements of Dance Teacher Resources

Third graders explore dance in relation to its formal elements of body shape, time, space, and energy in relationship. Students learn to combine various dance elements in dance making, performance (sharing) and reflective practices.

Fourth graders explore dance as creative expression and a form of communication. In this dance study lesson, 4th graders discuss dance and categorize their class list. Students then participate in dance movements. Students discuss the...

Combine the elements of dance with the actions in a poem. Learners review basic grammar, write an action-packed cinquain poem, and then choreograph a dance based on their cinquains. After the dances are done, they'll discuss the elements...

The elements of dance can be used to communicate thoughts and, in this case, words. In small groups, the class first creates a set of movements to show a single word. Then, they extend their movements to show a three-word phrase....

Students explore rhythm.  In this cross curriculum elements of dance, music, and literacy lesson, students listen to and repeat patterns of long/slow and short/fast  sounds.  Students choose a familiar theme and related words with 1- 4...

Young scholars explore butterfly life cycles and movement.  In this integrated fine arts and biology life cycle instructional activity, students listen to the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and identify the related life...

Students watch a video highlighting men in ballet. They complete further research on the topic using online and print resources. They create a short skit with the basic elements of dance.

Students create a dance based on the sounds they hear during a recording of rainstorm. They learn the elements of dance and explore the environment.

Second graders physically learn how to perform a wide range of locomotor and non-locomotor movements and perceive stillness as a contrasting element in dance making. Students observe and perform dances to increase their abilities to...

Students conclude the semester with an individual movement study utilizing basic elements of dance and choreography previously covered in class. They will choose from three choreographic prompts presented a few days before giving them...

Second graders interpret and transform drawn lines into locomotive movements. In this improvised movement lesson, 2nd graders draw a line on a piece of paper and use the elements of dance to interpret and transform their draw line into...

Students participate in different types of dances in which they explore time, action and other elements of dancing. They dance with a group or a partner and explore how to work together.

Young scholars explore how dance/movement tell a story. They analyze the elements of dance through interpretation of the story. Students exercise how the feelings and moods of the music suggest certain body movements and actions.

The dance elements of body, energy, space, and time are the focus of a lesson plan on movement and theme. The class follows along as the teacher shows them a new dance that has a theme. They practice the dance, and then change one...

One, two, three. One, two, three. Invite your language learners to practice the steps for researching and presenting information. Each small group has the task of explaining one Latin dance in full detail.

Fifth graders complete a unit of lessons on the definition of dance. They view videos of various dances, compare/contrast the dances viewed, categorize a list of words about dance on a handout, write journal responses, and perform dance...

Students participate in dance choreography. In this choreography lesson, students classify elements of choreography. Students collaborate in small groups and compose choreography.

What do writing and dance have in common? They both have a six-trait rubric for assessment. Just like a good story, a good dance must have a hook, beginning, middle, end,  logical sequence, and a climax. Learners use a structured...

Young scholars are introduced to the key concepts of maps; direction, pathway/line, shape and symbol. They create the pathways and shapes they have "mapped" out on paper on the floor. They dance along the paths.

Middle schoolers practice evaluating art by creating a research project and presentation. They use the Internet and library to discover a piece of art or artist whom they feel has an impact on the world of art. Next, they create a...

Students make choices about dance elements and organize them in expressive ways. They plan and present dance works for a familiar audience. They identify dance elements in their and classmates work.

Students watch a video and write a short descriptive essay on what they saw in this introductory lesson on movement and dance. The dance group "Body Vox" is studied and discussed in detail.

Students choreograph dances. In this dance choreography lesson, students evaluate musical selections, then create a dance that capture the emotion of the music.

Students read a Japanese Noh play and discuss its structure and traditional characters. They choose a short myth and write a Noh play based on it.