Dance 2 - Lesson 2

In the second lesson of the Dance 2 series for Year 3, pupils are encouraged to explore and express themselves through movement, drawing inspiration from the persona of a Circus Strong Man. The lesson objectives are clear: students should be able to select and experiment with a variety of movements, demonstrate coordination in linking actions, and provide feedback using basic dance terms with the guidance of their teacher. The success criteria set the stage for an immersive experience where children can respond imaginatively to different stimuli, repeat and connect a range of actions, and observe and critique their peers' work. Key vocabulary such as 'phrase', 'strength', 'muscle', 'pose', and 'tension' set the tone for the lesson, and equipment like gymnastic mats and music are prepared to facilitate the activities.

The session begins with a dynamic warm-up where children travel around the space using different steps like skipping and galloping, responding to commands that evoke various sweets, each with a corresponding movement. This is followed by the main activity, where the class revisits the theme of the Circus and focuses on embodying the character of a Strong Man. The children explore muscle poses, mimic lifting heavy weights, and perform 'cheeky' gestures to engage with the audience. Working in pairs, they create short dance phrases that include these movements, which they then perform to their classmates. The lesson concludes with a cool-down that revisits the 'Sweet Shop' activity from the warm-up, followed by stretching and breathing exercises on gymnastic mats, ensuring pupils are relaxed and ready to return to class. The anticipation is built for the next lesson where they will delve into the movements of a Tightrope Walker.