PE Platform Logo

This unit introduces Year 1 students to creative movement through the familiar and engaging world of animals. Building from individual exploration to partner collaboration, students develop fundamental dance skills whilst expressing their understanding of animal characteristics and habitats. The unit cleverly uses children's natural fascination with animals as a vehicle for developing body awareness, spatial understanding, and creative confidence in a supportive, imaginative environment.

Lessons in This Unit

6 lessons in this unit

Lesson 1

Animal Movements and Shapes
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use our bodies to show how different animals move and look?

Key Objectives:

  • • To move safely and creatively in space exploring animal movements
  • • To use theme-related words to inspire different types of movement showing good timing and use of levels

Lesson 2

Animal Movement Motif Development
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use our bodies to tell animal stories through movement and work together in perfect time?

Key Objectives:

  • • To develop creative movement ideas using animal-themed vocabulary as stimulus
  • • To focus on timing and perform a completed 32-count motif in unison

Lesson 3

Animal Movement Travelling with Levels and Pathways
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use our animal movements to travel creatively through space like real animals in their habitats?

Key Objectives:

  • • To creatively turn actions from our motif into travelling movements
  • • To demonstrate use of different levels in travelling movements

Lesson 4

Poetry in Motion - Partner Dance Creation
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use words from a poem to create beautiful dance movements with our partner?

Key Objectives:

  • • To work cooperatively in pairs demonstrating effective communication and listening skills
  • • To use poetry as a creative stimulus for imaginative dance movements and actions

Lesson 5

Creating Animal Dance Sequences in Pairs
45 min

Big Question:

How can we work together with a partner to create exciting animal movements that tell a story?

Key Objectives:

  • • To work effectively in pairs showing good cooperation and communication skills
  • • To use pictures as stimulus for creative and imaginative animal movements

Lesson 6

Performance and Review
59 min

Big Question:

How can we perform our animal dance sequence with confidence and help our friends improve?

Key Objectives:

  • • To understand what makes a good dance performance
  • • To give useful feedback using dance vocabulary