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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Need a musical instructional activity for your drama or performing arts class? VH1 has put together a really neat instructional activity, in which learners use biographical information about Alicia Keys to write and perform a one-act...
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Unit Plan
Johnny Mercer Foundation

The American Musical

For Teachers 7th
General music students learn about the history of popular American music by creating and performing a one-act musical. After researching and creating an American Musical timeline, class members write a song with lyrics using Jam Studio,...
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Activity
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

West Side Story Suite and In The Night Fancy Free

For Teachers 8th - 12th
West Side Story and Romeo & Juliet—two classics in their own rights that help young literature lovers better analyze different works. Learners research and compare the characters and story elements of West Side Story and Romeo &...
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Lesson Plan
Education Closet

West Side Shifts

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Combine math, language arts, music, and dance with an activity focused on "America" from West Side Story. After listening to the song, learners compare the film to Romeo and Juliet, analyze the song's meter, design choreography, plan...
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Lesson Plan
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Making Dances From Stories

For Teachers 4th
After reading a short story, learners will create dances that show homophones and verbs. Their dance sequences involve three verbs and transition movements in between each verb. Tip: Have the class dance out the sequence of events from...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dance Cards

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Let little dancers choreograph a dance using steps they have learned in the unit. Write the names of the dance steps that have been taught on sets of index cards. Make sure that each set of cards you create has a mix of the dance steps....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Add-On Line Dancing

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
This dance activity is exactly what the title says it is: add-on line dancing! Each dancer creates an 8-count piece of a line dance. They can pull from anything they have learned so far. After individuals have choreographed their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prepositional Relationship Dance

For Teachers K
Students learn the meaning of prepositions through movement. In this dance lesson, students choreograph a piece showing that they understand the meaning of various prepositions. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dance: Sharp and Smooth Energy Qualities

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students use different qualities of movement to express themselves. In this lesson on movement, students use different qualities of energy and then use their experience as an inspiration for writing poetry.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Elementary My Dear Dancer-Foundation Lesson

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars participate in dance choreography. In this choreography lesson, students classify elements of choreography. Young scholars collaborate in small groups and compose choreography.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graham's Appalachian Spring: A Study

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore choreographic narrative. In this choreography lesson, students explore the elements of Appalachian Spring as they develop a series of written responses to assignments that challenge them to investigate the structure of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shall We Dance?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This four to five day mini dance unit has many components. Discussion on what makes a good dance partner, research on famous dancing pairs, as well as learning a choreographed piece in class. The class learns a short dance sequence and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dance: Water Dancing

For Teachers K
Examine the way water moves, drips, and splashes with an expressive dance. Learners discuss the ways in which water moves, then create dance sequences that show or describe water. There are several suggestions to adapt this lesson plan...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nureyev: After Petipa

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Incorporating the arts into regular classroom practices isn't an easy task. Learners will research background information regarding Russian culture, history, and conflict then see how those things have applied to the rigors of Russian...
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Lesson Plan
Connecticut Gilbert & Sullivan Society

Jobs in the Musical Theater

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Much like an iceberg, the actors you see on stage are only a fraction of the number of people involved in a theatrical production. Introduce theatre arts students to the roles played by the behind-the-scenes- personnel with an worksheet...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Speak Out!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to Yvonne Ranier's "Trio A" dance and investigate how to express concern over social issues through choreography. They research important issues from the 1960's, choreograph and perform original dances.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Give Into Chance

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students experience choreography that originated from the Postmodern movement. They utilize a chance method by rolling a dice to change the order of a dance sequence. Then they compare this method to traditional methods.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Systems of the Body: Movement and Choreography

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars create movements that connect art and science. For this body systems lesson, students interpret the function of body systems, organs, and processes as they create movements to exhibit their research findings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plodding and Breaking Through:Walking and Carrying

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze and describe the contributions of various dance artists, performers, teachers, and choreographers. In this dance lesson, students fill in any gaps of knowledge they have in regards to dance training and choreographic...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Monkey Dance: Exploring Balinese Culture

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore Balinese culture. In this Balinese integrated fine arts lesson, students listen to a podcast of "The Monkey Dance," taking notes about important features of the dance. Students participate in a jigsaw cooperative...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shapes in Art, Shapes in Body

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore body movement.  In this shapes and dance lesson, students demonstrate body movements and positions that resemble simple shapes.  Students read I Spy Shapes in Art by Lucy Micklethwait and choose shapes from the book to...
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Activity
Curated OER

Choreography Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students produce a short choreography composition. Specific guidelines and choice of music are provided. The grade/evaluation takes place in the form of video documentation and a teacher-created rubric.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing Two Dances and Making a Dance Map: The Nutcracker

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students discuss dance elements and create a dance map. They choose a dance theme and incorporate movement into their dance maps and choreography. They also experiment with different types of music.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floor Paths

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the use of floor paths on the stage. In this floor paths lesson, students evaluate choreography for use of the floor space on the stage. Students design a short choreography piece that exhibits an understanding of space...