Lesson 3 - Floor Patterns & Snake Story
Snake Movement Storytelling
•Year 4
•Dance
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
Sign up free to access 3 complete units per month, unlimited activity library, and your personal locker.
What's included
- Complete activity instructions & timing
- Teaching tips & differentiation strategies
- Assessment guidance & success criteria
- Downloadable lessons & units
How can floor patterns and pathways help us tell the story of a hunting snake through movement?
Learning Objectives
- To copy and rehearse travelling movements across space using floor patterns with control
- To create travelling movements with floor patterns that help tell the story of a hunting snake
- To perform confidently with music in front of peers without prompts
Key Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate controlled travelling movements using various floor patterns
- Students will create and perform movement sequences that effectively communicate the snake's hunting behaviour
- Students will perform their group dance with confidence and appropriate focus and expression
Equipment & Resources Required
Positioned where all students can hear clearly
Alternative: Tablet/phone with portable speaker
Cued up and ready to play during performance sections
Alternative: Any atmospheric music suitable for snake movement
Used to mark diagonal lines and boundaries
Alternative: Chalk marks on floor (if outdoors)
Key Vocabulary
The pathway or route taken across the floor during movement
The direction and route of travel through space
A dance movement where the leg is extended straight and controlled
Where the dancer directs their gaze to enhance character and story
A line that goes from one corner to another across the space
The quality of movement showing energy, speed, and strength
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic travelling movements from previous lessons
- Understanding of performance space and safety
- Experience working in small groups
- Introduction to snake movement dynamics from previous lesson
Current Skills
- Controlled travelling across space using floor patterns
- Creating pathways that support storytelling
- Combining travelling movements with floor patterns
- Performance skills with focus and facial expression
Next Steps
- Complex choreographic sequences with multiple characters
- Advanced level changes and spatial relationships
- Creating original dance narratives
- Technical dance skills like battement
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Floor patterns are pathways that help tell stories through dance
- Different movements suit different pathway shapes
- Control and coordination are essential for clear storytelling
- Focus and facial expression enhance character development
- Group collaboration improves creative outcomes
- Performance confidence develops through practice and support
- Technical vocabulary helps communicate dance ideas clearly
Common Misconceptions
- Any pathway works for any story - teach that specific patterns enhance specific story elements
- Bigger movements are always better - emphasise control and clarity over size
- Looking at the audience is always correct - teach character-appropriate focus
- Individual creativity is more important than group coordination - balance personal expression with ensemble work
- Fast movement shows more skill - teach that appropriate speed and control demonstrate mastery
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Regular movement breaks built in, clear boundaries and expectations, fidget tools available during discussion time
dyspraxia
- Simplified movement patterns, extra practice time, visual and verbal instruction combination, peer support partnerships
autism spectrum
- Clear structure with visual schedules, quiet reflection spaces available, predictable routine with advance notice of performance
visual impairment
- Tactile floor markers for pathways, verbal descriptions of all visual demonstrations, buddy system for spatial navigation
hearing impairment
- Visual cues and hand signals for instructions, visual rhythm patterns, written instruction cards available
physical disability
- Wheelchair accessible pathways, adapted movements using upper body only, modified floor patterns at appropriate level
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Storytelling through movement, descriptive vocabulary for movement qualities, narrative structure
Science
Animal behaviour studies, predator-prey relationships, forces and movement
Art
Creating visual patterns, understanding line and shape in space, performance as art form
Geography
Directional language, mapping pathways, understanding coordinates and position
PSHE
Collaboration skills, building confidence, appreciation of others' work, creative self-expression
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move around space to observe all groups, position centrally for demonstrations
Observation Focus
Watch for pathway clarity, movement control, group collaboration, and performance skills
Intervention Points
Support groups struggling with integration, assist with pathway planning, encourage reluctant performers
Demonstration Notes
Use exaggerated movements for clarity, demonstrate wrong way to highlight correct technique, show pathway options clearly
Verbal Cues
- •'Strong legs for support!'
- •'Make your pathway clear!'
- •'Show me your snake character!'
- •'Focus on your prey!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 8m x 8m clear space for group work and diagonal travelling
Surface Check
Clean, non-slip surface suitable for dance movement
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Music system positioned safely away from movement area
- •Floor markers/cones with rounded edges
- •Electrical cables secured and away from pathways
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions during travelling movements
- •Falls during level changes and turning
- •Overexertion during energetic movements
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear spatial boundaries and pathways established
- •Adequate spacing between groups and individuals
- •Progressive warm-up preparing body for movement demands
- •Controlled timing of diagonal travelling to prevent collisions
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position to observe all travelling pathways
- •Monitor group work areas for safe spacing
- •Watch for signs of fatigue during repetitive practice
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately, assess injury, provide appropriate first aid, contact emergency services if required