Dance 2 - Unit Overview

The Year 6 Dance unit, themed around the Olympic Games, is a comprehensive plan that aims to enhance students' choreography skills, body awareness, performance abilities, and appreciation for dance. The unit builds upon prior knowledge, assuming that pupils are already familiar with basic dance movements, the concept of dance phrases, and techniques such as dancing in unison and canon movements. Throughout the unit, students will engage in a series of lessons designed to culminate in a dance routine that embodies the spirit and symbolism of the Olympic Games. This final performance could potentially be showcased at a school sporting event or an Olympic-themed assembly.

Each lesson within the unit is carefully structured with clear learning objectives and success criteria. For instance, pupils will learn to perform movements inspired by the Olympic flame, the torch relay, and both ancient and modern Olympic Pentathlon events. The unit encourages creativity and collaboration, as students will work in mixed-gender and mixed-ability groups to explore, repeat, and link a range of coordinated actions into movement phrases and patterns. Safety considerations are outlined, including the use of gymnastics mats and the removal of shoes and socks. The lesson plans are adaptable for shorter time frames and stress the importance of clear communication between the teacher and pupils for smooth transitions during the lessons.