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This unit nurtures Year 1 students' natural movement instincts while introducing foundational dance concepts through creative exploration and structured learning. The unique blend of emotional expression, mathematical patterns, and collaborative choreography helps students develop both artistic confidence and spatial awareness. Through progressive challenges, students move from individual creative expression to sophisticated group formations, building essential skills for future dance and drama work.

Lessons in This Unit

6 lessons in this unit

Lesson 1

Expressing Emotions Through Dance
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use our bodies and movement to show different feelings and emotions like the raindrop in our poem?

Key Objectives:

  • • To perform short dances that show different emotions and moods
  • • To identify and describe actions that represent contrasting emotions

Lesson 2

Clock Face Dance Patterns
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use a clock face to create rhythmic dance patterns that everyone can follow?

Key Objectives:

  • • Follow a clock face pattern to develop dance steps and create movement phrases
  • • Work with rhythm and timing to perform coordinated movements

Lesson 3

Clock Face Dance Patterns
51 min

Big Question:

How can we use directions and patterns to create our own special dance?

Key Objectives:

  • • To remember and perform dance steps using clock face positions
  • • To work independently to create movement patterns

Lesson 4

Freestyle Dance and Motif Creation
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use our bodies to create and perform dance movements that express music and rhythm?

Key Objectives:

  • • To perform freestyle dance moves with confidence and creativity
  • • To watch, copy and repeat dance movements to create a motif

Lesson 5

Formations and Stage Entrance
45 min

Big Question:

How can we create exciting entrances and exits using different formations to tell our dance story?

Key Objectives:

  • • To remember and perform the 6-move motif from lesson 4 in different formations
  • • To work cooperatively in groups to create entrances and exits using 'on stage' and 'off stage' concepts

Lesson 6

Pathways & Formations
45 min

Big Question:

How can we create interesting patterns and pathways when we dance together as a class?

Key Objectives:

  • • To explore different movement pathways in dance formations
  • • To practise switching from small group formations to whole class performance