Dance - Unit Overview

The Year 2 Dance 1 unit provides an engaging overview for pupils to delve into the world of dance, focusing on the incorporation of air patterns, jumps, and shapes to create dance phrases. The unit is designed to be accessible regardless of whether students have previous experience in dance. Throughout the lessons, children will learn to apply various dance elements such as tempo, space, and dynamics to their movements. The ultimate goal is for the pupils to collaboratively choreograph a group dance phrase inspired by the movements and sounds of fireworks, culminating in a class performance.

Structured as a medium-term plan, the unit is divided into six lessons, each with specific learning objectives and success criteria. Lesson one begins with the exploration of air patterns and shapes to form a dance phrase, while subsequent lessons build on this foundation, introducing the concept of choreography based on different fireworks like rockets and Catherine wheels. The teaching tips provided suggest practical considerations such as lesson timings, safety precautions with gymnastics mats, and the importance of clear signals for pupil attention. The unit encourages the development of body awareness, creativity, and performance skills, with an emphasis on providing feedback using simple dance vocabulary. By the final lesson, students are expected to perform their group dance, demonstrating their ability to recall, rehearse, and refine their choreography.