Dance 3 - Lesson 2

In the second lesson of the Year 6 Dance module, students are encouraged to explore and express the sensation of being weightless through movement within a defined space. The learning objectives set out for this session include working effectively in a group, embodying the feeling of weightlessness in their movements, and choreographing a dance using a floor pattern. Key vocabulary such as 'weightless', 'use of core', 'floor plan', and 'improvisation' underpin the lesson, helping to articulate the concepts being explored. The resources required for this lesson are pictures of space rockets and masking tape, which are used to create a visual and physical context for the dance activity.

The lesson begins with a 10-minute warm-up, where pupils find a space in the room and warm up their bodies from head to toe, possibly led by a teacher or peers. A leadership opportunity is presented as pupils are invited to call out commands during this warm-up. The main 30-minute activity involves pupils forming groups and using masking tape to outline the shape of a space rocket on the floor, which serves as their stage. Within these outlines, they are tasked with choreographing movements that convey a sense of weightlessness, akin to what they might experience in a low-gravity environment like the moon. This creative exercise culminates in a performance 'in the round', where the rest of the class surrounds the outlined stage to watch. Feedback and discussion are encouraged to reflect on the effectiveness of the choreography in conveying the intended feeling. The lesson concludes with a 10-minute cool-down, revisiting some of the warm-up exercises and allowing pupils to unwind and reflect on the session before they line up to leave.