Notes

  • In preparation for this lesson, the teacher may wish to request items that are suggested by students and/or representative of their own interests. 
  • In this lesson, students will view and explore a wide variety of different stimuli and find common connections with other students in their class who connected with the same or similar sources of inspiration.

Learning Goals

  • Use a variety of sources as inspiration for movement.
  • Use feedback from teachers and peers to improve their work in dance.
  • Apply dance studio roles and responsibilities.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of safety issues in dance class; character traits needed in dance class; copyrighted music and choreographic work.

Materials

Minds On (Approximately 10 minutes)

  • The teacher introduces a variety of stations that are placed around the classroom:
    • Station 1 – A Short Story (e.g., Sadako and the Thousand paper Cranes)
    • Station 2 – Poetry
    • Station 3 – Visual Art
    • Station 4 – Music (e.g., Conditions Critical)
    • Station 5 – Photographs (e.g., Postcard Home)
  • The teacher divides the class into 5 random groups. 

Action! (Approximately 40 minutes)

  • Students travel from station to station exploring the material, making note of their observations on BLM#3.  The teacher travels around the various stations to answer questions, promote discussion and focus student thinking.
  • Students complete BLM#3 - Observations and Impressions individually.

Consolidation (Approximately 25 minutes)

  • Have students meet together in a community circle. 
  • Students take turns reviewing their thoughts and observations.
  • Students choose the source they feel most connected to or inspired by – this creates new groups.
  • Students meet in their new groups to talk more specifically about why they have chosen this source.

Assessment