Dance 2 - Lesson 5

In the fifth lesson of a Year 5 dance series, students are set to learn and practise a choreographed street dance both in groups and as a class. The lesson's objectives are centred around exploring and repeating a range of movements with coordination, responding to music, and creating short dance sequences in groups. Key vocabulary such as 'phrase', 'sequence', 'stance', and 'choreographed' are integral to the lesson, which aims to cultivate musicality and an understanding of dance terminology. The equipment needed for the lesson includes gymnastic mats for the cool-down session and music that the pupils are familiar with, to help them engage with the beat during their dance.

The lesson begins with a warm-up where the teacher sets out the dance zone and models various travelling steps, such as skipping and galloping, with opportunities for pupil leadership. The main part of the lesson involves recalling street dance moves from previous lessons and integrating them into a group choreography that includes jumps or tricks. Students are encouraged to use different choreographic devices like mirroring and levels, and to think about how their performance will appear to an audience. The session culminates in a performance of the group routines, with the anticipation of linking these to the whole class choreography in the next lesson. The cool-down involves a repeat of the 'Copy Cats' activity and stretching exercises on the gymnastic mats, focusing on breathing and relaxation to end the session.