Dance - Fairy Tales - Lesson 5

In the fifth lesson of the Reception Dance series focusing on Fairy Tales, young students are encouraged to embody the enchanting world of fairy tale characters through dance. The learning objective is to create a dance that captures the essence of these characters, with success criteria that include remembering a variety of movements from previous lessons, displaying different dynamics and styles to match the music, and the ability to work effectively with a partner. Key terms for the lesson are 'duet', 'movement', 'beat', and 'pace', which are fundamental to understanding and executing the dance routines. To facilitate the lesson, the class requires a set of different coloured cones and a selection of music that complements the fairy tale theme.

The lesson begins with a 10-minute warm-up where children are encouraged to run around the hall, responding to colour cues with corresponding cones and freezing in place. This is followed by a series of instructor-led movements to prepare their bodies for the dance activities. The main part of the lesson, lasting 30 minutes, involves students practising an 8-move sequence with their partners, set to specific character music, and then learning a new choreographed sequence that includes elements of a villain and damsel. The class is then split in half to perform the whole dance to each other, simulating a performance environment. To cool down, the children participate in a game involving numbered movements and a series of stretches and relaxation techniques. The lesson plan suggests classical music pieces that resonate with fairy tale settings to enhance the dance experience.