Dance 2 - Lesson 3

In Year 6's Dance Lesson 3, students are encouraged to perform a range of movements inspired by the ancient Olympic Pentathlon. The lesson's objectives are to explore, repeat, and link a variety of actions with coordination, and to combine and link several movement phrases within a group. Key vocabulary introduced includes terms such as 'phrase', 'gesture', 'stance', and 'unison', as well as 'Olympic' and 'pentathlon', which relate to the historical context of the activities. 'Chariots of Fire' by Vangelis is suggested as accompanying music, and gymnastic mats are laid out for the cool down session. The warm-up involves a 'Copycats' activity where students follow the leader's movements, gradually increasing in intensity from walking to hopping and running.

The main part of the lesson focuses on creating dance phrases based on the ancient Olympic Pentathlon events, which include the long jump, javelin throw, discus throw, a short foot race known as 'stadion', and wrestling. Students discuss these events and how they compare to modern Olympic events, then work in groups to improvise gestures and movements associated with each. They are encouraged to use their creativity to explore different shapes and movements. The lesson culminates with group performances, where they showcase their sequences to the class, followed by constructive feedback based on the success criteria. To cool down, students repeat the 'Copycats' activity and engage in stretching and breathing exercises, preparing them to transition back to class.