Dance - Unit Overview

The Dance Unit Overview presents a structured framework for introducing nursery-aged children to the world of dance through a series of engaging lessons. This unit represents the initial foray into dance on the Striver platform and encourages children to draw upon their existing nursery experiences to enhance their learning. Each half-hour lesson is carefully designed to be interactive and developmentally appropriate, with an emphasis on removing shoes and socks to facilitate free movement. Teachers are advised to employ clear signals to manage the class, and to consider mixing genders and abilities when forming dance partners or groups. The overarching goal of this unit is to help children develop a basic understanding of choreography, improve body awareness, and foster creativity and rhythm in tune with music, aligning with the objectives outlined in the Development Matters guidance.

The unit is structured into a Medium Term Plan, consisting of six lessons, each with specific learning objectives and success criteria. In the first lesson, children learn to express different seasons through movement, gaining the ability to follow the teacher's lead, associate movements with seasons, and move independently. The second lesson involves using large muscle movements to manipulate ribbons, exploring a variety of movements, levels, and directions. By the third lesson, children use ribbons to trace letters, shapes, and numbers, enhancing their ability to recognise these elements while incorporating tempo and levels into their movements. The fourth lesson focuses on rhythm and music associated with wild animals, encouraging children to explore and mimic animal movements. In the fifth lesson, specific vocabulary is used to guide movements, with children learning to follow a leader and interpret repeated actions. The final lesson utilises hoops to create a diverse range of movements, encouraging children to use key vocabulary and replicate the teacher's choreography.