Dance - Fairy Tales - Unit Overview

The 'Dance - Fairy Tales' unit is part of the Striver Lesson Plans tailored for reception-aged children. This engaging programme integrates the enchanting world of fairy tales with dance, providing a creative platform for young learners to explore movement and storytelling. Prior to starting this unit, the children will have already engaged with actions and role play in their daily learning activities and would be familiar with nursery rhymes, which helps lay the foundation for understanding how movement can convey a narrative.

The unit is structured into six lessons, each with specific learning objectives and success criteria. The first lesson aims to help pupils interpret music and inspire movement, allowing them to travel through space and choreograph their own movements. As the unit progresses, the children will learn to create movements that reflect fairy tale characters, work with partners to develop duets, and eventually perform a dance that embodies the essence of a fairy tale. Teaching tips include practical considerations such as lesson timings, safety with gymnastics mats, and classroom management through clear signals. The unit's goal is to foster basic choreography skills, body awareness, creativity, and an appreciation for dance, while also developing performance skills through the interaction with music and collaborative work.