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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dance: Water Dancing

For Teachers K
Examine the way water moves, drips, and splashes with an expressive dance. Learners discuss the ways in which water moves, then create dance sequences that show or describe water. There are several suggestions to adapt this instructional...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dance: Sharp and Smooth Energy Qualities

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students use different qualities of movement to express themselves. In this lesson on movement, students use different qualities of energy and then use their experience as an inspiration for writing poetry.
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Lesson Plan
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Making Dances From Stories

For Teachers 4th
After reading a short story, learners will create dances that show homophones and verbs. Their dance sequences involve three verbs and transition movements in between each verb. Tip: Have the class dance out the sequence of events from...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prepositional Relationship Dance

For Teachers K
Students learn the meaning of prepositions through movement. In this dance lesson, students choreograph a piece showing that they understand the meaning of various prepositions. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graham's Appalachian Spring: A Study

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore choreographic narrative. In this choreography activity, students explore the elements of Appalachian Spring as they develop a series of written responses to assignments that challenge them to investigate the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dancing Levels in Space

For Teachers K - 5th
Students practice mirroring human moves by performing a dance in class.  In this physical education lesson, students utilize different spaces around them to perform a dance expressing their full motion.  Students cooperate in pairs or...
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Lesson Plan
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Poems That Dance

For Teachers 5th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shapes in Art, Shapes in Body

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore body movement.  In this shapes and dance lesson, students demonstrate body movements and positions that resemble simple shapes.  Students read I Spy Shapes in Art by Lucy Micklethwait and choose shapes from the book to...
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Activity
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

West Side Story Suite and In The Night Fancy Free

For Teachers 8th - 12th
West Side Story and Romeo & Juliet—two classics in their own rights that help young literature lovers better analyze different works. Learners research and compare the characters and story elements of West Side Story and Romeo &...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphs of the Heart

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study Greek literature. In this Greek tragedies lesson, students explore the dance-dramas of Martha Graham. Students study the choreography that brings ancient Greek literature to life.
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Lesson Plan
Education Closet

West Side Shifts

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Combine math, language arts, music, and dance with an activity focused on "America" from West Side Story. After listening to the song, learners compare the film to Romeo and Juliet, analyze the song's meter, design choreography, plan...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rhythmic Dancing

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders practice expressing themselves through the art of dance.  In this physical education lesson, 4th graders discuss choreography and how moving specific ways at certain times can be artistic.  Students create and perform a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nureyev: Bringer of Light

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine Nureyev's artistic endeavors and achievements. In this language and art lesson, students analyze  modes of dance expression at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. They focus on Martha Graham and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landscapes of the Mind

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers review Emily Dickinson's biography and examine themes and forms of some of her poems. They measure ways Graham integrates aspects of Dickinson's life and the themes and forms of her poetry into Letters to the World.
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Lesson Plan
ArtsNow

Arts Now Learning: Character Choreography [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson, portraits provide inspiration for students to create character descriptions. Then, basic dance techniques are used to express the traits, motivations, and feelings of the characters as students work collaboratively to...