Dance 3 - Unit Overview

The Dance 3 unit for Year 3 pupils is a creative journey designed to enhance their dance skills through the captivating theme of kites. Throughout the unit, students are encouraged to develop their own choreography, focusing on elements such as levels, interpretation, synchronisation with music, and the ability to evaluate their peers' performances. The ultimate goal is to craft group and class performances that are not only technically sound but also artistically expressive. Prior to embarking on this unit, pupils should already be familiar with basic dance movements and the concept of stringing these movements together to create dance phrases that can be performed both individually and as a collective.

Teaching tips for this unit include adhering to one-hour lesson timings, which account for the time needed for children to change before and after the lesson. Safety is paramount, with the use of gymnastics mats and the removal of shoes and socks advised. Teachers are also encouraged to establish clear signals for attention and to consider mixing boys and girls of different abilities when forming dance partners or groups. The unit's key objectives involve students learning to choreograph solos and group routines inspired by the dynamics of flying a kite through various weather conditions, introducing the concept of canon, and building confidence in both choreography and performance. Over the course of six lessons, students will progress from creating solo pieces to performing a group dance, all while integrating the theme of kites into their movements.