Dance 2 - Unit Overview

The Year 4 Dance 2 unit is an engaging series of Striver lesson plans that immerses pupils in the art of dance through the theme of Life Cycles. Throughout the unit, pupils will be encouraged to select and explore a variety of movements that reflect different stages of growth and development, such as the daily cycle of a flower or the germination of seeds. The culmination of the unit is for the pupils to learn, rehearse, and perform a dance routine as a group, showcasing their understanding of the Life Cycle of a Tree. This unit not only aims to enhance pupils' body awareness and creativity but also focuses on developing their choreographic and performance skills, as well as their ability to appreciate and critique dance.

Prior learning sets the foundation for this unit, with pupils having been introduced to various dance movements and skills, including the concept of a dance phrase. The unit provides practical teaching tips to ensure lessons run smoothly, such as adjusting timings for lessons shorter than one hour, ensuring safety with the use of gymnastics mats, and using clear signals for pupil attention. It also encourages the formation of dance partnerships or groups that mix genders and abilities, which can be rotated weekly but remain consistent for the final performance. The overarching goal is to create a supportive environment for pupils to engage fully in dance activities and to feel comfortable discussing both their own work and that of their peers.