Dance 3 - Lesson 1

In Year 5's first Dance 3 lesson, students embark on a creative journey to embody the dynamic features of a river through movement and dance. The learning objectives set the stage for pupils to perform freeze frames that capture the essence of various river features such as ox-bow lakes, meandering paths, waterfalls, tributaries, and rapids. To achieve success, students must interpret images and work collaboratively in groups or duets to choreograph their movements, ensuring they represent the images in the most inventive way possible. Key vocabulary terms such as 'freeze frame', 'gesture', 'travelling', and 'pathways' are introduced, providing the linguistic tools needed to describe and understand their dance creations.

The lesson begins with a warm-up session where students find their own space and follow the teacher's lead in a series of full-body movements, all set to music of their choice. This initial activity is designed to engage pupils and prepare their bodies for the main task. During the main session, pupils form a circle and engage in a matching activity with images and labels of river features, setting the context for their dance exploration. The class is then divided into groups to create freeze frames based on the images, maintaining the secrecy of their assigned picture. After presenting their freeze frames to the class, they receive a new photo, this time adding a brief sequence of movement to enhance their performance. The lesson concludes with a cool-down routine, where students follow a series of instructions to relax their bodies, culminating with a calm and orderly transition back to the classroom.