Dance - Minibeasts - Unit Overview

The Striver Lesson Plans for Reception pupils introduce a delightful dance unit themed around minibeasts. This unit is specifically designed for young children to explore movement and expression through the characteristics of small creatures. Prior to this unit, pupils should have experienced using movement as a form of self-expression and should understand how different types of music can influence the way people move. The unit aims to make children aware of their bodies and the various movements and shapes they can create by emulating different minibeasts such as spiders, butterflies, dung beetles, ladybirds, and bees.

Each lesson within the unit has a clear learning objective and success criteria. The first lesson focuses on creating shapes and patterns within a group, teaching pupils to collaborate and use their bodies to form shapes. Subsequent lessons build on this foundation, incorporating actions inspired by bees to travel through space, using arm movements to form shapes, and exploring the concepts of mirroring and symmetry with partners. By the end of the unit, pupils should be able to perform movements that resemble different minibeasts, demonstrating their ability to recall movements from previous sessions and move at varying speeds, positions, and levels. Teaching tips include considerations for lesson timings, safety precautions such as removing shoes and socks, and the importance of using clear signals for attention during class.