Year 5 & 6 Dance Activities

I teach Dance in Term 3 each year. It is a great way for students to learn to express themselves creatively with a new strand of Creative Arts. The school I teach at runs a Dance Fever Program in Term 2, where students learn Dance steps for different styles of dance. My lessons are a nice follow-on from this, as they students have dance experience, but in my lessons they get to add more of a creative aspect.

For Stage 2 & 3, I teach 2 units that I alternate on a 2 year cycle. In "Improvising and Creating through Dance", students learn 3 small routines of Hip-Hop, Polka and the Jive. As well as some Country line-dancing and Bollywood Dancing. They are given a mix of music suited to these dance styles and they choreograph a dance to their chosen mix in groups.

In "Exploring Dance Styles", students look at how Dance has evolved through time. They are to form groups and as a class they vote on a song and the song is divided up so each group has a section they are to choreograph a dance for. Their dance must include different dance styles and elements of dance such as space, formations, props, tricks, etc. They are both great units and the students really enjoy working in groups and especially using props and costumes to help tell a story through dance.

*These units are based on units of work from; “Everybody Dance Now!” A primary dance curriculum resource for PDHPE and Creative Arts Teachers. CEO Sydney. (2007). Book and DVD.