PE Platform Logo

This unit uses the dramatic historical narrative of the Titanic to develop students' ability to communicate complex emotions, social dynamics, and character perspectives through dance. By exploring authentic historical context alongside advanced choreographic techniques, students engage with how movement can tell powerful stories that honour real events whilst developing sophisticated performance skills appropriate for upper Key Stage 2.

Lessons in This Unit

6 lessons in this unit

Lesson 1

Partner Balances and Ship Movements
45 min

Big Question:

How can we use our bodies to tell the story of the mighty Titanic through dance?

Key Objectives:

  • • To create connecting balances that represent the structure and grandeur of The Titanic
  • • To develop flowing movements that show the ship's journey and arrival at port

Lesson 2

Character Movements and Social Classes
45 min

Big Question:

How can movement tell the story of different people's experiences on the Titanic?

Key Objectives:

  • • Create movements that represent the different social classes of 1912
  • • Use levels and characterisation to differentiate between social classes

Lesson 3

Social Classes Aboard The Titanic
45 min

Big Question:

How did social class influence the way people danced and celebrated aboard The Titanic?

Key Objectives:

  • • To develop group movements selecting and applying choreography into a routine
  • • To create dance sequences that represent different social classes from The Titanic

Lesson 4

Iceberg Impact: Extending Choreography with Emotion and Expression
50 min

Big Question:

How can we use dance to tell the dramatic story of the Titanic's collision with an iceberg?

Key Objectives:

  • • To recreate the Titanic hitting an iceberg through controlled movement
  • • To perform choreographed movements that incorporate emotion, expression and characterisation

Lesson 5

Character Relationships and Emotion
1h

Big Question:

How can we use movement to convey the complex emotions and relationships between passengers during a life-threatening situation?

Key Objectives:

  • • To demonstrate emotion, expression and characterisation through movement to represent passenger relationships during the Titanic sinking
  • • To create collaborative choreography that shows the sequence of events during the ship's sinking

Lesson 6

Performance and Reflection
1h 5min

Big Question:

How can we create a powerful documentary performance that honours the memory of Titanic passengers and survivors?

Key Objectives:

  • • To perform a Titanic-themed dance sequence with clarity, fluency, accuracy and consistency
  • • To demonstrate expression, emotion and characterisation appropriate to the historical context