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Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

The Science of Movement

Subject Area

Arts Education

Grade(s)

K

Overview

Students will watch a video about break dancing.  They will observe items in their home and around their community that move.  They will have a dance party, move to suggested motions, and react to various tempos in different songs. 

    Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): KG - Dance

    AE17.D.K.5

    Use suggestions from peers or instructors to change movement through structured improvisational activities.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:AE17.D.K.5

    Vocabulary

    • locomotor
    • non-locomotor
    • non-locomotor vs locomotor movements
    • elements of dance
    • choreography
    • improvisation
    • structure
    • concepts and inspiration for choreography
    • feedback and revision
    • notation

    Essential Questions

    EU: Choreographers analyze, evaluate, refine, and document their work to communicate meaning.
    EQ: How do choreographers use self-reflection, feedback from others, and documentation to improve the quality of their work?

    Skills Examples

    • Demonstrate locomotor and non-locomotor movements (i.e., running, skipping, twisting, falling).
    • Identify elements of movement that are personally difficult to perform and discuss how this impacts movement choice in choreography.
    • Identify how it feels to perform the same movement fast and slow.
    • Create a connected shape, improvise while disconnected, and finish back in original connected shape.
    • Perform improvised movement based on a famous painting.
    • Identify how the movement changes if an element is performed differently, such as taking the movement from a high level to a low level.
    • Create three movements and develop a symbol to go with each (such as ⟲ for turn).

    Anchor Standards

    Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
    Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): KG - Dance

    AE17.D.K.8

    Demonstrate tempo changes with movements that match music or sound stimuli.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:AE17.D.K.8

    Vocabulary

    • Elements of Dance
    • Space
    • Tempo/ Speed
    • Energy
    • Basic movement qualities
    • Embody
    • Body Pattern
    • Shape
    • Locomotor/ Non-locomotor
    • Same side vs cross body
    • Spatial Awareness
    • General Space
    • Personal Space
    • Safety Principles in movement
    • Space
    • Prop

    Essential Questions

    EU: Space, time, and energy are basic elements of dance.
    EQ: How do dancers work with space, time, and energy to communicate artistic expression?

    Skills Examples

    • Explore shape examples: discuss what objects are straight. Show examples of said objects with the body (straight, curved, bent/ angled, size: big/ small).
    • Respond to music or other sound stimuli with free movement that matches varying tempo: fast, slow, moderate.
      • Engage in "freeze dance": respond to music or other sound stimuli through movement with varying tempo changes. When music/ stimuli pause, freeze in called out shape, size or level.
    • Observe and demonstrate movement qualities, such as hard/ heavy or soft/light, smooth or wavy, and slow or jerky.
      • Practice actions using varied movement qualities: stomp (hard), float (soft).
    • Demonstrate same side and cross-body locomotor and non-locomotor movements.
    • Display an awareness of physical space and apply principles of safety when sharing space with others in activities, formations and explorations.
      • Hold hands and form group shape formations.
      • Use locomotor movement (skip, hop, crawl, etc.) to travel in a group shape.
    • Discuss how we use space safely. Practice using safety principles discussed.
    • Demonstrate full body movement sequence through observation, demonstration, and repetition.
      • Practice learned sequence of heel, together right and left, and marching in place.
    • Practice and perform dance with others in the safety of classroom, gym or outside space.
    • Use a scarf to improvise flowing or staccato movement.

    Anchor Standards

    Anchor Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
    Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): KG - Dance

    AE17.D.K.10

    Demonstrate body patterning movements and body shapes.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:AE17.D.K.10

    Vocabulary

    • Elements of Dance
    • Space
    • Tempo/ Speed
    • Energy
    • Basic movement qualities
    • Embody
    • Body Pattern
    • Shape
    • Locomotor/ Non-locomotor
    • Same side vs cross body
    • Spatial Awareness
    • General Space
    • Personal Space
    • Safety Principles in movement
    • Space
    • Prop

    Essential Questions

    EU: Dancers use the mind-body connection and develop the body as an instrument for artistry and artistic expression.
    EQ: What must a dancer do to prepare the mind and body for artistic expression?

    Skills Examples

    • Explore shape examples: discuss what objects are straight. Show examples of said objects with the body (straight, curved, bent/ angled, size: big/ small).
    • Respond to music or other sound stimuli with free movement that matches varying tempo: fast, slow, moderate.
      • Engage in "freeze dance": respond to music or other sound stimuli through movement with varying tempo changes. When music/ stimuli pause, freeze in called out shape, size or level.
    • Observe and demonstrate movement qualities, such as hard/ heavy or soft/light, smooth or wavy, and slow or jerky.
      • Practice actions using varied movement qualities: stomp (hard), float (soft).
    • Demonstrate same side and cross-body locomotor and non-locomotor movements.
    • Display an awareness of physical space and apply principles of safety when sharing space with others in activities, formations and explorations.
      • Hold hands and form group shape formations.
      • Use locomotor movement (skip, hop, crawl, etc.) to travel in a group shape.
    • Discuss how we use space safely. Practice using safety principles discussed.
    • Demonstrate full body movement sequence through observation, demonstration, and repetition.
      • Practice learned sequence of heel, together right and left, and marching in place.
    • Practice and perform dance with others in the safety of classroom, gym or outside space.
    • Use a scarf to improvise flowing or staccato movement.

    Anchor Standards

    Anchor Standard 5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
    Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): KG - Dance

    AE17.D.K.13

    Dance for and with others in designated space.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:AE17.D.K.13

    Vocabulary

    • Elements of Dance
    • Space
    • Tempo/ Speed
    • Energy
    • Basic movement qualities
    • Embody
    • Body Pattern
    • Shape
    • Locomotor/ Non-locomotor
    • Same side vs cross body
    • Spatial Awareness
    • General Space
    • Personal Space
    • Safety Principles in movement
    • Space
    • Prop

    Essential Questions

    EU: Dance performance is an interaction between performer, production elements, and audience that heightens and amplifies artistic expression.
    EQ: How does a dancer heighten artistry in a public performance?

    Skills Examples

    • Explore shape examples: discuss what objects are straight. Show examples of said objects with the body (straight, curved, bent/ angled, size: big/ small).
    • Respond to music or other sound stimuli with free movement that matches varying tempo: fast, slow, moderate.
      • Engage in "freeze dance": respond to music or other sound stimuli through movement with varying tempo changes. When music/ stimuli pause, freeze in called out shape, size or level.
    • Observe and demonstrate movement qualities, such as hard/ heavy or soft/light, smooth or wavy, and slow or jerky.
      • Practice actions using varied movement qualities: stomp (hard), float (soft).
    • Demonstrate same side and cross-body locomotor and non-locomotor movements.
    • Display an awareness of physical space and apply principles of safety when sharing space with others in activities, formations and explorations.
      • Hold hands and form group shape formations.
      • Use locomotor movement (skip, hop, crawl, etc.) to travel in a group shape.
    • Discuss how we use space safely. Practice using safety principles discussed.
    • Demonstrate full body movement sequence through observation, demonstration, and repetition.
      • Practice learned sequence of heel, together right and left, and marching in place.
    • Practice and perform dance with others in the safety of classroom, gym or outside space.
    • Use a scarf to improvise flowing or staccato movement.

    Anchor Standards

    Anchor Standard 6: Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
    Link to Resource

    CR Resource Type

    Learning Activity

    Resource Provider

    PBS
    Accessibility

    Accessibility

    Text Resources: Content is organized under headings and subheadings
    License

    License Type

    CUSTOM
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