University of Northern Iowa
Additional Folklife Information
Use a packet packed with ideas for how to celebrate the traditions of your country, state, community, and pupils's families. Suggestions for how to draw on oral and material traditions, customs, beliefs, music, and stories all find a...
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Discovering Russian Folk Dance
First graders explore the art of Russian folk dancing. In this cultural traditions instructional activity, 1st graders research the Troika and incorporate attributes of the Russion folk dance into their own renditions.
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Dance Around the World
Students gather information about traditional dances. In this folk dance lesson plan, students work in small groups to research a type of folk dance, then present information and perform the dance for the class.
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Swing Your Partner! It's A Virtual Square Dance
Young scholars explore the Wessels Living History Farm website and research how to do a square dance. They read a story, listen to an explanation of barn dances, and participate in various square dances.
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Learning By Looking: Pueblo Indian Ceremonial Dances
Students investigate the uses of ceremonial dance in the Pueblo Indian culture by viewing videos of native dances. They listen to folk tales that explain the dances and compare the traditions of the Pueblo culture to their own culture....
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Understanding Folklife and Folklore
Student examine the basic characteristics of folklore. In this folklore lesson, students complete activities to identify two kinds of folk, folk groups, and folklife. Students list daily activities in their home, identify folk groups...
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The Chicken Dance
Third graders identify and perform the five main dance movements of the "Chicken Dance" to accordion music.
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Ethnic Folklore in Your Classroom: Traditions, Tales, and Treasures from Tijuana to Timbuktu
Students create their own festival. In this folk life lesson plan, students research their folklore history by interviewing their parents and grandparents, organizing the data found, and presenting that material to the class. Students...
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Aztec Dance
Seventh graders study Aztec dance to learn about their culture and civilization. In this Aztec study lesson plan, 7th graders watch a video of Aztec dancers and describe the dance on an index card. Students visit a website to learn the...
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Folk Dances of Eastern Europe
Pupils explore the cultural heritage of Eastern Europe. In this folk dance lesson, students take note of the provided dance steps for the Gypsy dance. Pupils practice performing the dance.
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Folk Dance Explorations in the Choreographic Work of Modern Dance
Tenth graders participate in a lesson guided by an essential question: in what ways does choreographer, Mark Morris' work, "The Office," reflect Eastern-European traditional folk dance? During the lesson's first sessions, students...
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The Chicken Dance
Introduction of a modern folk dance that emphasizes the coordination of both fine and gross motor skills within the melodic structure of the song. The pupils will be able to identify the main parts of an accordion and discuss the...
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Do Be Square
Second graders perform a square dance using proper movements keeping the beat and the rhythm of the song. They explore basic square dance steps as well as a complete dance. Give a bit of background on square dancing.
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Lesson Plans for 2nd grade Japan Unit
Second graders explore the music and dance of Japan in this five lessons unit. Aspects of Janpanese and American culture are compared. The food, holidays, clothing, and the school day of the two countries are discussed.
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It is All in the Call
Third graders have an opportunity to show mastery of square dance skills by calling a square dance of their own in a non-threatening environment. Conclude the lesson by reviewing some of the calls that were done, especially ones that...
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Multicultural Music: Israel
Do a grapevine to the left, lift your hands in the air, and sing out, "Hey!" These are the steps second graders will do when they sing and dance the Israeli folk song, "Achshav.” They will explore the concept of multicultural music and...
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Pata Pata Pat Pat
Pupils are exposed to the arts with a simple, introductory rhythm/dance activity which can lead into the traditional Pata Pata folk dance, or dance in general.
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Music Styles
Students identify many genres of music and connect styles of music with various cultures. They watch "The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A to Z" and list music styles: folk, jazz, rock, etc.
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Arts of Asia in Reach
Students explore the traditions and celebrations of another culture and research a city or community in Japan. They then examine traditional Japanese music as well as practice several dance steps and discover their significance in...
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Uchiwa Lesson Plan
Students view images from Japan's Summer Festival celebration. They create a uchiwa fan to use while doing the Kuma River Dance.
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Emotions in Motion
Students use dance as a form of communication. In this meanings of dance lesson, students create dances to communicate a variety of emotions.
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Little Black Book
Young scholars are introduced to simple folk dances, already having been introduced to dances with an 8-count beat. They perform various dance steps.
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Aloha, Hawaii!
Learners read the Hawaiian version of The Three Little Pigs, to study cultures and traditions of the island. They gather and study resources about the culture, people, and endangered species of Hawaii.
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Hey Good Looking, What You Got Cooking?
First graders perform a song and skit to illustrate how music can be used to communicate movement As part of the Thanksgiving Day program, 1st graders perform a song and skit that illustrates how music can be used to communicate movement.