Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lines of Symmetry - Mirror Dance

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders analyze how to divide space or shape into mirror sections to create lines of symmetry. In this lines of symmetry lesson, 5th graders discuss symmetry in dance, math, and living. Students participate in a dance warm-up and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parallel and Perpendicular Lines and Lines of Symmetry: Rhombus Shadowing

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders demonstrate different types of lines using movement. In this line and movement instructional activity, 5th graders demonstrate parallel and perpendicular lines, and lines of symmetry using dance movement. They also...
Lesson Plan
US Department of Health and Human Services

Learning Something New: How Does It Feel?

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Use song and dance to help your youngsters identify their feelings and embrace learning. Starting with a brainstorming activity, class members talk about learning new things and how this made them feel. After listing to the song, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life of a Navajo Weaver

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students explore Native American weaving patterns and dance movements. In this Native Americans instructional activity, students view examples of weaving patterns on the Internet and compare the patterns to a Native American dance....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Navajo Weaving

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the Navajo culture. In this Navajo Indians lesson, students gain information about their weaving and dancing. Students note the patterns in the weaving. Students create a dance that corresponds with the patterns they see...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art and Sole

For Teachers 1st
A series of four lessons encourages learners to engage in all sorts of artistic activities. They participate in creative movement, serve food, sing songs, recite poems, and create a bust of themselves. What a fun and exciting series of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Add-on Line Dancing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students practice sequencing and coordinating various movements to music.When they have chosen the music for the day, have them find a self space and clap and move to the beat in their space for the duration of the song.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 14- Merce Cunningham: A Lifetime of Dance

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze the techniques of modern dance choreography. They keep a journal as they observe the movement of people and animals. They use the movements to create a dance piece.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Joy of the Body

For Teachers K
Students participate in a read aloud of the poem, "My Body" then perform several different movement activities such as a finger play, a letter dance, and a body puzzle. They then create a drawing of their body using a prepared outline.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Activity Plan Mixed Ages: Animal Antics

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Young scholars get moving in this activity. In this early childhood music and movement lesson plan, students develop their listening, gross motor, and language skills as they imitate animals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Dance of the Butterfly

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore butterfly life cycles and movement.  In this integrated fine arts and biology life cycle lesson, students listen to the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and identify the related life cycle stages....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shapes in Art, Shapes in Body

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars explore body movement.  In this shapes and dance lesson, students demonstrate body movements and positions that resemble simple shapes.  Young scholars read I Spy Shapes in Art by Lucy Micklethwait and choose...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Roots of Modern Dance in America

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop an understanding of how African culture impacted modern dance in the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Island Breezes: Exploring Hula Dance

For Teachers K - 4th
Students explore Hawaii and the art of hula dance. In this art lesson plan, students research the art of hula dance and Hawaii. Students create their own unique hula dance.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dance Research Essay

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students discover and appreciate the history, characteristics, and significance of a specific dance style. They to pick a dance style that they are interested in and would like to research.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebrating Halloween With the Purple People Eaters

For Teachers K - 4th
Get youngsters moving by teaching them some basic dance moves. This dance can be done in a circle, a line, or scattered around the gym. There are four movement combinations that are taught to the song "Purple People Eater" by Sheb...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Rhythm to Teach Patterns and Directions

For Teachers K - 4th
Introduce young learners to line dancing. Here are some simple movement patterns to teach them. First teach, repeat, and repeat again without music. Then when they have a pretty good grasp of the movement patterns, add music and practice...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Great Balls of Fire - I Got Locomotor Skills

For Teachers K - 5th
Teach and review elementary locomotor skills. Use "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis to get youngsters up and grooving to the beat! The dance steps are described in rich detail and you will have the class jumping, skipping,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphs of the Heart

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars study Greek literature. In this Greek tragedies activity, students explore the dance-dramas of Martha Graham. Young scholars study the choreography that brings ancient Greek literature to life.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Occupy the Gym Floor

For Teachers 5th - 9th
There are eight different steps in this line dance lesson: angle step, jump step, punch step, marching step, grapevine step, turn step, stop step, and down step. Each step has it's own eight-count. Teach these steps to youngsters and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebrate Oktoberfest with the Polka

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Here's a pretty comprehensive instructional activity on the polka. There is information on the origins of the polka and the history of Oktoberfest. There is even a list of how to count to ten in Polish, Czech, and German. Include or skip...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Congruent Polygons: Copying Stretchy Shapes

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate congruent polygons through dance. In this congruency lesson plan, 3rd graders do the "brain dance" as a warm up. They review polygon names by singing "The Polygon Chant," before mirroring congruent shapes with a...
Lesson Plan
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Cloud Sculpting

For Teachers 1st
Dance is a fantastic way to communicate thoughts, feelings, and even science concepts. Make this activity a part of your next unit on weather and clouds. Kids will discuss types of clouds, how they look, and what they do. Then, they will...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Surfin' USA Lummi Stick Routine

For Teachers K - 4th
"Let's go surfin' now, everybody's learning how, come on and safari with me." One of the Beach Boys more famous songs that is bound to get your class up and moving. This dance has basic dance steps and the added dimension of using Lummi...