Curated OER
The Tango
Fourth graders explore the music of Buenos Aires as they hear and then dance the Tango. They practice basic Tango rhythm, learn to sing the song, "Any Turkey can Tango," then practice a few Tango-riffic dance steps with a partner....
Smithsonian Institution
Braiding Rhythms: The Role of Bell Patterns in West African and Afro-Caribbean Music
Africans transported to the Caribbean as part of the transatlantic slave trade brought with them a rich tradition of music and dance. Four lessons teach young musicians the rumba clave rhythm, cascara rhythm, and the 6/8 bell patterns...
PE Central
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with Dance
Erin go bragh! Enliven your St. Patrick's Day celebration by teaching your class members some of the combinations found in traditional Irish step dancing.
Curated OER
Surfin' USA Lummi Stick Routine
"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...
Curated OER
Celebrating Halloween With the Purple People Eaters
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...
Curated OER
Swing Your Partner!
This was written for ESOL learners, but could work for any elementary class. Learners read about the American dance style known as Square Dancing. They explore its use in literature, write a friendly letter about it, and then use their...
Curated OER
Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with Dance
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by teaching your class how to do an Irish jig. This type of dance is very fast. Break it all down and teach each section of the dance thoroughly. There are plenty of hops, kicks, toe touches, and stomps in...
Curated OER
Native American Music and Dance Activity
Students demonstrate keeping steady beat through practice exercises and stepping to the beat using instruments such as conga drums, tambourines and rhythm sticks.
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with Dance
Learners perform Irish dances. In this Irish dance lesson, students learn a variety of dance steps and use these dances for physical activity, fun, and exercise.
Curated OER
Dancing a Christmas Carol
Learners explore dance. They analyze and outline the movements of the dance "Roger de Coverly" from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Students choose music and choreograph a dance similar to "Roger de Coverly." They perform the dance....
Curated OER
Snakes
Students follow directions to make a snake out of patterns. They research a specific snake and present it to the class in a group. They listen to a presentation about the King Cobra snake prepared by the teacher.
Curated OER
Rhythmic Dancing
Fourth graders practice expressing themselves through the art of dance. For this physical education lesson, 4th graders discuss choreography and how moving specific ways at certain times can be artistic. Students create and...
Curated OER
Moving Rhythms
Students explore the elements of tempo, beat and rhythm. They create rhythm patterns and an original dance. In groups, students perform their phrases for their peers. As a class, they explore choreographic principles, processes and...
Curated OER
Historical Witness: Social Messaging
Students create a self portrait using symbols that represent them. In this self portrait lesson plan, students look at a nineteenth century painting and discuss the symbols that represent this era. They then recreate a dance in the...
Curated OER
Triple Meter
Students chant "Mabel, Mabel, Set the Table" in beats grouped in 4's using a percussive pattern. They repeat using 3's. Students sing a song in 4's and in 3's. they move to recorded music to practice threes. Students create Orff...
Curated OER
Meet Louis Prima!
Young scholars discover the difference in major and minor tonality after a brief introduction to Louis Prima. They discuss swing dancing and Louis Prima's role in the "Jungle Book" as the character King Louis. Students listen to the...
Midwest Clinic
Latin Rhythms: Mystery Unraveled
There is an indescrible energy to Latin American music—but if you know your music theory, it's not so indescrible after all. A thorough packet provides definitions for terms like bolero, charanga, shekere, and tumbao before listing...
Curated OER
It's Waltz Time!
Learners, after hearing and viewing a video of the waltz scene from the musical, "Cinderella," by Mary Rodgers, "physicalize" a three beat rhythm with accompaniment video and discuss and evaluate triple meter. They master a song in 3/4...
Curated OER
Compass Rose: Dance and Quilt
Fourth graders identify the cardinal directions by listening to a song entitled, "Stand," and by reviewing the lyrics to that song. They notice the cardinal directions that are posted around the classroom. They perform the motions as...
Curated OER
Shortenin' Bread Shuffle
Students learn a line dance that corresponds with the recreational dance curriculum of North Carolina. They respond to directional cues and terms in folk an line dancing.
Curated OER
Jingle Bells Streamer Routine
Students perform movements with streamers as part of a P.E. activity. They dance to the song Jingle Bells, following explicit directions. They practice a dance routine, and can create their own dance.
Curated OER
Locomotion, Time And Shapes
Young scholars practice the concepts of time and rhythm using drum beats. They also create body shapes using verbal cues. The shapes made include stretched, curled, angular, or twisted. The rhythm of beats is increased or decreased to...