Dance - Farm - Unit Overview

The Striver Lesson Plans for Reception offer a vibrant dance unit themed around the farm, specifically tailored for children in their early years of schooling. This unit is a series of dance lessons that encourages children to express themselves through movement, using their prior knowledge of animals and role play. It is designed to help them understand and mimic the movements of different farm animals, aiding them in improvising and choreographing dance sequences. The lessons are structured to last one hour, inclusive of time for pupils to change, with adjustments possible if the lesson duration varies. Teachers are advised to ensure safety by using gymnastics mats and having pupils remove shoes and socks. A clear signal should be established for pupils to stop and listen, and mixed-ability dance partners or groups are recommended to enhance learning outcomes.

The unit is structured with a clear Medium Term Plan that outlines the learning objectives and success criteria for each lesson. The first lesson focuses on teaching pupils to move to the rhythm of music, while the second lesson introduces safe rolling techniques. As the unit progresses, children learn to choreograph movements in lesson three, work collaboratively in groups to create a sequence in lesson four, and rehearse a dance about farm animals in lesson five. The culmination of the unit is a final performance in lesson six, where the children showcase their farm animal dance to an audience, demonstrating their ability to remember and perform the sequence of movements in time with the music. This unit aims to engage all pupils in dance, enhance their body awareness, and develop their creativity, choreographic skills, performance skills, and appreciation for dance.