This unit provides students with the opportunity to explore the elements of dance and narrative form to communicate ideas. Throughout the unit their are multiple opportunities for cross-curricular learning.
Beginning with an exploration of the elements of time and energy, students have the opportunity to work in groups to create the components of a thunderstorm (wind, rain, thunder and lightning). Building on these skills, students will then investigate how to convey animals and their interactions with the environment through the elements of dance and narrative form. In the third lesson, students will use flocking to explore human interaction with animals and the impact humans can have on animals and their environment. In the last lesson, students will apply their understanding of narrative form and the elements of dance to create a group dance piece that conveys a particular emotion.
How can the elements of dance and choreographic forms be used to communicate ideas in a dance piece?
How can the elements of dance be used to communicate feelings and ideas?
How can the use of energy and time be used to represent the changes in weather?
How can dance be used as a language to explore and represent ideas?
How can the elements of dance be used to represent the relationships in animal habitats?
How can dance be used as a form of expression to use, explore and articulate the social and political impact of issues related to the environment?
How can the elements of dance be used to communicate an idea?
How can we use movement vocabulary to convey meaning?
How can we use the elements of dance to communicate emotions?
Why is it important to give and receive feedback?
The final dance piece will be evaluated using a rubric.
Observation
Side coaching
Discussion
Reflection
Discussion
Side-coaching
Discussion
Observation
Side-coaching
Exit card
Observation
Side-coaching
Co-constructing criteria
Students will work in small groups to create the components of a thunderstorm (wind, rain, thunder and lightning) using the elements of dance. The small groups will then be combined (wind and rain together, thunder and lightning together) and students will explore the element of relationship as they rework their dance piece to include two components of the thunderstorm. As an extension, the class could work together to create a dance piece that combines all 4 components of a thunderstorm.
Approx. 75 minutes
In this lesson, students will use the elements of dance and narrative form to explore the concept of the food chain and how animals are dependent on their habitats for survival.
Approx. 100 minutes
Using the text The Great Kapok Tree as a springboard, students will use flocking to explore human impact on the natural world.
Approx. 100 minutes
Building on what they have learned in the first three lessons, students will use the elements of dance and narrative form to explore an emotion and, ultimately create a dance piece that conveys their chosen emotion to the audience.
Approx. 100-150 minutes
A1. Creating and Presenting: apply the creative process to the composition of movement sequences and short dance pieces, using the elements of dance to communicate feelings and ideas;
A2. Reflecting, Responding, and Analysing: apply the critical analysis process to communicate their feelings, ideas, and understandings in response to a variety of dance pieces and experiences;
