Dance 3 - Unit Overview

The Year 6 Dance 3 unit is an engaging programme that aims to inspire students to create a group dance choreography centred around the concept of space. Throughout the unit, pupils will explore various elements such as embodying an astronaut, the sensation of gravity, the alignment of stars, planetary features, and their orbital paths. The unit builds on prior knowledge, assuming that pupils are already familiar with basic dance movements and the construction of dance phrases. Students will have the opportunity to connect their movements to form cohesive group and whole class dance phrases that reflect the vastness and intrigue of space.

Teachers are equipped with a range of teaching tips to facilitate the unit effectively, including appropriate timing for one-hour lessons, safety considerations such as the use of gymnastics mats, and the importance of using clear signals for pupil attention. The lesson plans encourage mixing boys and girls of varying abilities to form dance partners or groups. The overarching goals of the unit are to develop basic choreography, enhance body awareness, foster creativity, and improve performance and appreciation of dance. The unit is structured around a medium-term plan with specific learning objectives and success criteria for each lesson, ranging from solo choreography to group performances, all while incorporating the theme of space and using music to influence the dance.