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Explore Locomotor Patterns

  • Lesson Plan Creator: Linda C. Smith
  • Grades: Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2
  • Subjects: P.E.
  • Part of Class: Creative Movement

Moving through space, using different tempos and locomotor movements and levels. This lesson plan relates to the Feet Dance in Fin Amour.

Learning Objectives/Goals

Students will create a pattern using basic locomotor movement then explore their pattern in Time using different levels.

Materials Needed

A large open space, music or a drum

Introduction

State your class goals, space boundaries

Warm-Up

Have students make a list of locomotor movements or ways to travel from one place to another in space.  With music have student practice some of these movements.

Investigate

Select 3 different locomotor movements and create a pattern.  For example, run, slide, roll.  Practice as a group.  Then introduce the idea of time.  Try doing the pattern as slowly as possible.  Try doing the pattern as fast as possible.  Then introduce levels.  Try doing the pattern low to the ground, high in the air, in the middle. 

Create

In groups, have students select 3 locomotor movements to create a pattern.  Ask them to include one that is slow and one that is very fast.  Also ask them to include high, medium and low levels.

Reflect

Perform the patterns for one another using music. Ask students to look for different speeds and levels and locomotor movements as they are watching groups perform.

Extension to the Lesson

Add a frozen beginning and ending shape to the pattern.  One on a low level and one on a high level.

Follow Up Resources

Dance To Learn video lesson plans.



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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.
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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!