Dance - Fairy Tales - Lesson 6

In the sixth lesson of a Reception class dance series, young learners are set to perform a dance that embodies the enchanting world of fairy tales. The learning objectives are clear: students should be able to confidently perform a dance that reflects fairy tale characters, manage to keep in sync with their peers, and execute movements that align with the chosen genre of music. The success of the lesson is measured by the pupils' ability to perform in front of an audience, maintain rhythm with classmates, and accurately carry out the dance moves to the appropriate music. Key vocabulary terms such as 'turn', 'unison', 'freeze', 'musicality', and 'counts of 8' are introduced, ensuring that the children are familiar with the language of dance.

The lesson begins with a dynamic warm-up where children run around the room, responding to numbered actions called out by the teacher, such as jumping or hopping. This is followed by a series of stretches and movements to prepare their bodies for the main activity. During the main part of the lesson, which lasts 30 minutes, the students have multiple opportunities to rehearse their fairy tale dance before performing it to an audience. The teacher, possibly assisted by a teaching assistant, leads the children, providing visual aids and verbal cues to assist with the choreography. Following the performance, a reflective discussion allows the children to express their feelings about the experience. To wind down, a cool-down session involves a sequence of stretches and relaxation techniques, culminating in the children getting ready to leave the dance area in an orderly fashion. Music recommendations and character posters are suggested as resources to enhance the fairy tale theme of the dance.