Dance - Fairy Tales - Lesson 4

In the fourth lesson of a Reception class dance series themed around fairy tales, children are introduced to the concept of performing a duet. The learning objective is to enable the young pupils to work together in pairs and execute dance movements that correspond with different genres of music. Key vocabulary such as 'travelling', 'contact', 'direction', 'unison', 'beats', and 'musicality' are highlighted to help the children understand the fundamental elements of dance. The lesson requires a selection of music recommendations and visual aids to represent emotions, which are integral to the activities planned.

The session begins with a warm-up where children navigate the space, avoiding contact with others, while responding to various emotions called out by the teacher or depicted through pictures. This exercise encourages them to explore different movements and facial expressions. The main activity involves the children forming pairs and deciding roles between a 'villain' and a 'damsel in distress', with each child learning and performing a sequence of movements that tell a story through dance. The lesson concludes with a cool-down where children relax and visualise a fairy tale story read by the teacher, followed by drawing and sharing their imaginations with the class. This structured approach not only teaches dance but also fosters creativity and collaboration among the young learners.