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Create Your Own Line Dance

  • Lesson Plan Creator: Lynne Larson
  • Grades: Grade 5, Grade 6, Junior High, Highschool
  • Subjects: Science, P.E., Music
  • National/State Fine Arts Standards: Create, Perform/Present, Connect, Respond, Connect/Analyze
  • Tags: Creative Movement
  • Skills Addressed: Creative Problem Solving, Creation of Patterns

Students will explore the different steps and movements that make up common social dance line dances. They will then take some of these ideas and create their own unique line dance by manipulating these movements and using choreographic principles.

Learning Objectives/Goals

Students will explore choreography principles from the State Core Standards for Fine Arts Dance and apply them in a social dance setting.

Materials Needed

Music that has a definite beat and is counted in 8's. A large open space. A white board or large piece of paper and a writing utensil.

Introduction

Set the class expectations and goals. Ask for creativity and open mindedness as well as teamwork for this lesson.

Warm-Up

Ask students which line dances they know and ask them to share. Turn some music on and have students do these dances as a warm-up!

Investigate

Sit the students down and begin to ask some questions about the line dances they just experienced. What are some movements or actions that the dances all have in common? Does each dance have a similar structure? A similar tempo? What movements stuck out? Were there movements or actions or sounds that accented the music? Make a list of
some of the answers. For example: grapevine, step touch, clapping, face each wall of the room, turns, body part isolations, most of the line dances were 4 sets of 8 long, etc.

Create

Divide students into groups. Have the students select 4-5 items from the list of observations. Using these ideas, create a line dance that utilizes all 4-5 items they selected. The line dance needs to face all 4 sides of the room, so make sure they include a way to change direction at the end of the sequence. The line dance also needs to use movements that can be counted in 8's. Give them a few minutes to work and create.

Reflect 

Watch each group and have the students comment on the different items the group chose for their new line dance. Were there certain ones each group chose? What choices stood out?

Extension to the Lesson

Have a couple groups get together and combine the new line dances into one long line dance. Take turns teaching and decide which order to put the sequences and then perform!

Follow-up Resources

Research other social line dances and select ones to learn in the studio. Ask relatives, friends, search YouTube, etc.

 



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What People are Saying

The diversity of the dancers really spoke to my students! It was great to see boys and girls dancing, and different races. The high level of engagement was so refreshing and got students excited about thecontent.
This activity was valuable because it helped students make connections between dance, rhythm, healthy lifestyles, and expression. The students were impressed by the talent of the dancers and it was motivating to them.
Opportunities for art and expression are so limited at school but so essential and valuable for all students, especially those who struggle to learn through traditional methods. My Kindergarteners have been dancing since you left!
This was so engaging. I looked around the auditorium and every student was watching. Not one person was talking or distracted
This activity is valuable to teachers and students because it gives them a creative outlet. We need movement in the classroom to engage, energize and deepen student learning.
I got great ideas on how to incorporate movement into math and science lessons.
I loved how you made movement and exercise relatable to the students. The dancers were full of energy and there was very little down time so students stayed engaged.
Our children were captivated by the performance. They listened to you and they were learning without knowing. They usually giggle when bodies are shown and talked about. But the way you presented it was so tastefully done, they now do poses and movement around the room and outside. You brokesome barriers and they took that permission and literally ran with it!