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This unit develops Year 4 students' expressive dance skills through the engaging theme of cat characters and movement. By combining character interpretation, musicality, and storytelling, students explore how dancers use their bodies to communicate emotions and narratives. The progression from individual exploration to collaborative group performance builds both technical dance skills and creative confidence in a playful, imaginative context.

Lessons in This Unit

6 lessons in this unit

Lesson 1

Cat Movement and Expression
45 min

Big Question:

How can we move like excellent dancers by interpreting music and showing expression through cat movements?

Key Objectives:

  • • To explore movement through improvisation, introducing unison and matching
  • • To sustain character to add drama and emotion to dance

Lesson 2

Extending Cat Sequences with Canon
45 min

Big Question:

How can we create dramatic dance sequences using canon to tell the story of mischievous cats?

Key Objectives:

  • • Apply canon technique when performing contrasting cat characters with a partner
  • • Sustain character throughout dance sequences to add drama and emotion

Lesson 3

Contrasting Cat Characters
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use movement and expression to bring two completely different cat characters to life through dance?

Key Objectives:

  • • To develop character dance skills by exploring two contrasting cat personalities
  • • To create and perform sequences that clearly show the difference between mysterious and lazy cats

Lesson 4

Partner Cat Sequences
45 min

Big Question:

How can we create dramatic cat characters that interact through dance?

Key Objectives:

  • • To develop complex interacting movements that show relationships between cat characters
  • • To sustain character portrayal whilst creating sequences with a partner

Lesson 5

Cat Sequences & Interaction
45 min

Big Question:

How can we move like excellent dancers while creating stories through our cat characters?

Key Objectives:

  • • To develop and perform interacting cat movements with a partner
  • • To create sequences that show clear relationships and storylines

Lesson 6

The Cats Ball Performance
45 min

Big Question:

How can we create a captivating group performance that brings cat characters to life through dance?

Key Objectives:

  • • To create and perform a group dance sequence inspired by cat movements and characters
  • • To demonstrate stage presence, timing, rhythm and character sustainability in performance