For anyone teaching the Ancient Greeks or Greek Myths here are 3 easy to deliver, creative dance lessons that will have your students active, fire their imaginations and develop their creative skills and team working.
The first lesson uses the sailing ship crashing onto the island of Crete; the second explores the maze and the third lesson uses the theme of the battle. These could be developed further by being linked together to creative the narrative & then further still by being repeated in reverse order to show Theseus leaving the maze and returning home.
The lessons come with suggestions for instrumental music that can be accessed through itunes or YouTube.
If you require any further help or support I deliver inset to help your school devise and deliver high quality dance lessons linked to curriculum themes.
5 dance lessons aimed at ks2, that cover the science area of ‘The Earth & Space’ focusing on ~
The Solar System
Rocky Planets & Gas Planets
The Sun
Journey into Space
The Earth
Each lesson plan is written in a detailed, step by step approach where the children are encouraged to work creatively and often co-operatively, this also assists with inclusivity and allows students to work at their own level. Hints & tips are included along the way to help you sustain the pace of the lesson, as well as a guide to the skills being developed in each section.
A suggestion for suitable music is included, along with a link for iTunes - the music should also be available on other platforms such as Spotify & YouTube
This pack includes 4 easy to follow dance lessons that cover
cave paintings
hunter gatherers
moving from caves to simple houses
into the Iron Age with the creation of weapons (battles).
Each lesson comes with a link to suitable music as well as hints and tips along the way to help you to keep the children on task and challenged. There is also a side column indicates the key skill for each section of the lesson.
The lessons are in step-by-step form that require the teacher to simply ask questions & set tasks - this allows the children to be very creative & it is also a very inclusive way of working.
If you require any further support please feel free to contact me at cpring@live.co.uk
Suitable for lower KS2 these step by step dance lessons use themes from the story - the first looks at the Iron Man on the farm & eating machinery, the second is the arrival of the Space-Bat-Angel-Dragon & the final uses the battle. All are highly creative lessons that requires the teacher to simply ask questions & set tasks, which in turn allows the children to create their own actions & to keep moving for the duration of the lesson.
The plans comes with a suggestion of suitable music.
5 creative dance lesson plans covering the topic of ‘Kings & Queens’.
These focus on
Castles
Dragons
William the Conqueror (and the Bayeux Tapestry)
The Tower of London
The Crown Jewels
Each plan enables the teacher to deliver the lesson simply by asking questions & setting creative tasks for the students - this encourages imaginative responses, high levels of engagement, opportunities for students to work together, share ideas, analyse and evaluate.
The lessons are written in a clear formula & include hints & tips along the way as well as the key skill of each section being identified in the right hand column.
This method of working is very inclusive of children with different physical abilities and levels of experience - it also includes an i-Tunes link for suitable music - the tracks suggested would also be available on other platforms such as Spotify or YouTube.
Step by step lesson plans for KS2 science - Forces - covering ~
What is a force?
Magnetism
Buoyancy
Gravity
Friction & Resistance
through creative activity to introduce or consolidate understanding of the scientific principles.
The lesson plans can be delivered in any order (and you don’t need to deliver all of them).
Each step comes with hints and tips to help with classroom management as well as identifying good work and the skills the children will be developing.
There is also a suggestion of suitable music that can be accessed through platforms such as iTunes, Spotify or YouTube.
The lessons are inclusive allowing children to different levels of experience, physicalities or ages to work together. The teacher simply asks questions and sets tasks - there are no ‘routines’ to be learnt or taught.
Five creative dance lessons suitable for y2 or ks2 based on The Romans.
The lessons focus on Mosaics, Transport (chariots), Battle Formations, Invasions and Settlements.
These lessons have been written with covid 19 restrictions in mind & whilst still allowing the children to work together they do not require physical contact, limit travelling around the space and the activity level is moderate & sustained rather than high impact.
Each lesson follows a simple step by step format where the teacher is simply required to ask questions to stimulate movement ideas in the children; there are hints & tips along the way to guide the teacher how long each task might last & what they can do to further support learning. Further to this the skills that each section of the lesson focus upon are noted in a column on the right.
The lessons can be performed in any order & you do not need to cover all of them.
4 dance lesson plans covering themes & ideas covering ‘Natural Disasters’.
These cover
Plate techtonics/earthquakes
Volcanoes
Tsunami
Cyclones & floods
All of which link closely to their understanding of the environment & they can be delivered in any order.
Each plan enables the teacher to deliver the lesson simply by asking questions & setting creative tasks for the students - this encourages imaginative responses, high levels of engagement, opportunities for students to work together, share ideas, analyse and evaluate.
The lessons are written in a clear formula & include hints & tips along the way as well as the key skill of each section being identified in the right hand column.
This method of working is very inclusive of children with different physical abilities and levels of experience - it also includes an i-Tunes link for suitable music - the tracks suggested would also be available on other platforms such as Spotify or YouTube.
5 dance lessons aimed at ks2, that cover themes and ideas covering ~
The formation of mountains
The River Nile
Meandering Rivers
The River Thames
Mount Everest
Each lesson plan is written in a detailed, step by step approach where the children are encouraged to work creatively and often co-operatively, this also assists with inclusivity and allows students to work at their own level. Hints & tips are included along the way to help you sustain the pace of the lesson, as well as a guide to the skills being developed in each section.
A suggestion for suitable music is included, along with a link for iTunes - the music should also be available on other platforms such as Spotify & YouTube
3 creative dance lessons based on the story of Owl Babies by Martin Waddle.
The first lesson covers the nest & could link to animal habitats, the second uses the idea of the owl babies coming out onto their various branches whilst waiting for their mother & uses the difference of the branch, the twig & the old ivy. The final lesson looks at the mother flying & returning to the nest.
Each lesson comes in a step by step format & requires the teacher to simply ask questions & set tasks to allow the children to respond creatively. There are hints & tips along the way to assist, as well as a column indicating the key skill in each section of the lesson & a link to suitable music.
If you require any further help please contact me at cpring@live.co.uk
4 creative dance lesson plans for ks2 covering the story of ‘Macbeth’ by Shakespeare.
These focus on key events in the story through the perspective of
The Witches
Lady Macbeth
Lord Macbeth (and Banquo)
Macduff.
Each plan enables the teacher to deliver the lesson simply by asking questions & setting creative tasks for the students - this encourages imaginative responses, high levels of engagement, opportunities for students to work together, share ideas, analyse and evaluate.
The lessons are written in a clear formula & include hints & tips along the way as well as the key skill of each section being identified in the right hand column.
This method of working is very inclusive of children with different physical abilities and levels of experience - it also includes an i-Tunes link for suitable music - the tracks suggested would also be available on other platforms such as Spotify or YouTube.
Easy to follow step by step lessons that cover the ideas of pirate ships, setting sail over the seven seas, treasure maps and making shelter on a desert island.
Each lesson allows the students to generate their own ideas & encourages the children to keep moving, be imaginative and develop their team working/choreographic skills.
Comes with a suggestion for suitable music.
This pack includes 4 step by step creative dance lessons suitable for KS1 or lower KS2. Each lesson links to ideas from a poem ‘Under the Sea’ and enables the children to explore a wide range of actions & physical skills.
The lessons come with music suggestions that are easily accessed through the internet, alternatively feel free to add your own choice.
The lessons are written with the non-specialist in mind & hints and tips are included to help you to create a positive working environment without having to dance a step yourself!
Lesson 1 looks at swimming, limpets and coral reefs; Lesson 2 links with octopus, jellyfish, starfish & dolphins; Lesson 3 uses sharks, sea snails and hermit crabs & Lesson 4 explores building sandcastles, gathering shells & paddling/splashing in the sea & these can be performed in any order.
Four lessons for KS2 students using the theme of Tribal Dance - linking to the Haka and African dance. The lessons come in a simple step-by-step format with the first exploring different formations & analysing the types of action typically found in traditional tribal dances like the Haka. The following lesson uses Question & Answer to communicate the competitive situation. The third lesson uses contrast and complement to create a battle & the final lesson reflects celebratory dances of Africa.
All the lessons come with a suggestion for the music that could be used and they can be linked to create a narrative dance.
There are links to examples on YouTube to help you illustrate the cultural links - but the lessons do not require the teacher to dance - but please feel free to do so if you feel confident!
Creative dance lessons in a step by step format for those under confident with teaching dance. The lessons include ‘Sparklers’, ‘Rockets’, ‘Helicopters, Pistils and Comets’ & ‘Guy Fawkes’.
The lessons come with a suggestion for music that is easily sourced via the internet.
The lessons include guidance for the teacher - e.g. when to add music, the sort of feedback you might give and how you might arrange sharing/feedback opportunities.
If you require any further information or support please feel free to email me - my address is included with the notes.
Each lesson has been tried and tested in a number of primary schools & they do not require the teacher to dance a step!
A step by step guide to enable those who lack confidence in delivering dance.
The lesson is clearly structured but allows the children to be fully active throughout the lesson, creating their own movement in response to ideas from the story.
The plan includes a guide of what you hope to see for each element of the lesson to help you assess the children and develop their skills.
There is a music suggestion for each lesson.
The lessons would fit with themes such as habitats, polar regions, winter; but individual lessons within the plan also look at explorers, winter sports, penguins & snow.
Dance lessons for ks1 & 2 based on Fireworks, Bonfires & Guy Fawkes.
All come with suggested music & step by step lesson plans that require the teacher to simply set tasks by asking questions & this allows the students to be creative and is very inclusive of different abilities.
3 easy to follow lessons plans based on Eric Carle’s ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’.
Each lesson plan comes with a music suggestion & is written in step-by-step form with the associated skills for each section being clearly highlighted.
The lessons are designed for the teacher to simply ask questions & set tasks to allow the children to respond creatively.
The lessons could be amalgamated in a final lesson to create a short performance piece of three distinct sections.
The lessons could link easily with topics such as Life Cycles, Change, Spring or even healthy eating!
For those of you who feel a little apprehensive about teaching dance I have tried something a little different.
A power point that takes you through the lesson step by step by simply going from slide to slide & reading out the tasks for the children to do. (Alternatively you could project the tasks onto a whiteboard for them to work more independently).
It is a creative lesson aimed at year 2, 3 or 4. The teacher just asks the children to ‘find a way…’ & it is up to them how they respond.
I have suggested a piece of music to suit the lesson - but it would suit any gentle instrumental piece.
This is an experiment for me. I’d really appreciate your feedback.
I’ve put the stepping stones of a dance lesson for ks2 in the format of a powerpoint. (In the same way as I do in my written resources).
So, as a teacher, you can either use the powerpoint for yourself or you could share it with the students so they use it to remind them what to do or become more independent.
The benefits could include
helping the students to stay on track
less talk time by the teacher
suitable for supply teachers to deliver
help to support NQT’s as they develop their skills
The music I would suggest using include…
Storm 3000 by Leftfield (for y5 or 6)
or
Bubble & Slide by The Sabres of Paradise
or
Forbidden Colours by Sakamoto (for something gentle)
or
Black Sands by Bonobo (for y3 or 4).
All of which should be available on iTunes, Spotify or You Tube.
clairepringdance.com
cpring@live.co.uk