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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

-Body in Motion - Axial and Locomotor

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students practice increasing their movement and dance vocabulary through axial motion and locomotor step skill-building. They work with a partner and create and perform short sequences utilizing the vocabulary their practicing. Each...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

EXPRESSIVE QUALITIES

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create a dance that expresses a specific mood. They describe the composition in writing and explain how they would alter actions, movement qualities and spacing to convey a new mood. They perform the dance they created...
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Activity
Curated OER

Choreography Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students produce a short choreography composition. Specific guidelines and choice of music are provided. The grade/evaluation takes place in the form of video documentation and a teacher-created rubric.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abstractions/Gestures

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars examine and display the differences between literal, and non-literal movement and abstraction using a creative project in movement. This project originates as an individual item, culminating in a small group performance.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The First Fire : A Cherokee Animal Tale

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover movement through the telling of "The First Fire", a Cherokee tale. Small groups are given sections of the story to tell by creating dances. Music (live and recorded) adds to the final performance and assessment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indian PowWow

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students identify three different American Indian regions and tribes, their food, clothing, shelter, recreation, and transportation. Students create artifacts that can be placed in a museum. Students sing songs, chants, and dance. ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Folk Dancing Fun

For Teachers 1st
First graders discuss different kinds of music they have heard. They listen to a short selection of folk music and discuss where they think it is from. Using a globe, the teacher shows students where the music is from. They spread out on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Say It With Dance From Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the history of the musical "Oklahoma". They choreograph their own segment from the Dream Ballet. They also gather information from listening to media reports.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dancing Into History from Dance in America: Acts of Ardor: Two Dances by Paul Taylor

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students watch a video of a performance choreographed by Paul Taylor. They research the Great Depression and issues facing teenagers today. They create a dance that shows a historic period of the United States.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nutcracker

For Teachers 1st
First graders define a ballet as a story told through dance. They listen to melodies and demonstrate beat and accent through body movement. They watch the ballet.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sharp and Smooth Movements: The Nutcracker

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore sharp and smooth movements. In two groups, students perform dances using sharp and smooth movements. They are asked to discuss the differences between the movements and how they felt when you watched or performed.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Force: The Nutcracker

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students explore basic dance element of force, compare and contrast the use of force as it distinguishes the expressive qualities of a given dance, and explore the use of force in several of its many expressions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dance the Beat

For Teachers K - 12th
Students study the artwork of Keith Haring to identify his style and techniques used to represent movement of the human body. They observe each other's movements while dancing to lively music. Students represent each other's postures and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

EL CALENDARIO DE DANZAS FOLKLORICAS MEXICANAS

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore Mexican dance groups
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Ballet and Dance Quiz

For Students 7th - 12th
Ballet is the main focus of this short answer quiz, but a few questions cover dance in cinema and Scottish folk dance names. Trivia for dancers!
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle: Revising the Drafts

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore states of matter by concentrating on the ways in which water moves between its solid, liquid, and gaseous states in a variety of Earth environments familiar to the students. Students represent these movements in dance.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Stories

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students use dance to better understand the writing process. In this interdisciplinary lesson, students use their critical thinking skills to connect dance with writing. Students use thinking maps to follow the writing process, write a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hispanic Arts and Culture Unit: Visual Arts, Dance, and Music

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars learn about Latin American dance and rhythm in different forms and participate in dancing. In this Latin American lesson plan, students also analyze Latin American paintings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Linear and Locomotor Movements

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students develop locomotor movements. In this dance movement lesson, students identify lines and develop creativity while performing to "Cha Cha Slide". Students discuss how to create dances and difficulty of movements. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Choreographic Variations on "Plod"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the choreography of Dan Wagoner. In this art lesson, students create their own choreography based on the work of Dan Wagoner's dance "Plod."
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plodding Along: The Dan Wagoner Experiment

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Learners research Dan Wagoner and apply his choreographic ideas in "Plod" to dance study. In this art lesson, students discuss Dan Wagoner. Learners select four shapes from "Plod" and connect in a dance.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groovin' with the cows

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create dance moves to a song. In this dance instructional activity, 3rd graders listen to the cow song and create dance moves that match the words they hear. They work in small groups and perform their dance and song. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aztec Dance

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders study Aztec dance to learn about their culture and civilization. In this Aztec study lesson, 7th graders watch a video of Aztec dancers and describe the dance on an index card. Students visit a website to learn the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dance - Kindergarten Moving Safely in Space

For Teachers K
Students experience dance and movement. In this kinesthetic lesson, students practice movement of their limbs and joints. They use a hula hoop to identify personal space.