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Theatre
Lesson Plan
Lesson 2
Body Movement
*This
lesson MUST be done prior to “Theatre Lesson 3 on Improvisation”
Click
here to download
this lesson plan in Microsoft Word format.
Click
here to download
the flipchart that goes with this lesson.
ARTS DISCIPLINE:
Theatre
GRADE LEVEL:
Grade 2
STANDARDS
- 2.1 Create
and improvise movement patterns and sequences.
- 2.7
Demonstrate partner skills (e.g. imitating and leading/following).
- 2.3 Create
a simple sequence of movement with a beginning, middle and an end,
incorporating level and directional changes.
- 4.1 Use
Basic vocabulary to name and describe a dance observed or performed
(e.g., levels, rhythm patterns, type of energy).
APPROXIMATE TIME:
2-45 min. sessions
TOPIC: Using body to
improvise movement
OBJECTIVES
- Students
will interpret drawn lines on paper and transform them into axial and
loco motor movement using direction and line.
- Students
will work together in pairs to create a sequence of movements.
- Students
will demonstrate understanding of dance vocabulary through identifying
and manipulating dance elements (time, space and energy) in the
sequence of movements.
- Students
will work together in trios to create a sequence of movements.
INTERDISCIPLINARY
CONNECTIONS
Social
Studies
- HSS 2.2
Students demonstrate map skills by describing the obstacle and relative
locations of people, places, and environments.
Language
Arts
- 2.1 Write
brief narratives based on their experiences: b. Describe the setting,
characters, objects, and events in detail.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS
- Flipchart
- click here to download 2TheatreSocUnit2Less4b.flp
- Paper and
pencils
- Music
– any varying in style and tempo
- “Where
are you?” Prompt cards
VOCABULARY
- axial movement:
movement anchored to one spot by a body part. Only the available space
in any direction is used while the initial body contact is being
maintained. Movement is organized around the axis of the body and is
not designed for travel from one location to another. Also known as
nonlocomotor movement. Examples include stretching, bending, turning in
place, gesturing.
- locomotor movement:
movement progressing through space from one spot to another. Basic
locomotor movements include walking, running, galloping, jumping,
hopping, skipping, sliding, leaping.
- pathway: an
element of space that refers to the immediate spherical space
surrounding the body in all directions. Pathway in dance is synonymous
to line in visual art: a point that moves through space that can vary
in width, length, curvature and direction. In dance, a body part of the
entire body can move in a variety of pathways.
- personal space:
an element of space that refers to the immediate space surrounding the
body in all directions and within a body bubble. Students do not move
freely around the room.
- general space:
an element of space that refers to the immediate space surrounding the
body in all directions. Students are free to move around the room in
all available space.
- unison: At
the same time; at once.
PROCEDURES
WARM
UP (day 1)
- Review the
word pathway: to travel in a particular line (and direction), using a
single body part in personal space (e.g., making a circular path with
an arm or head) or moving the entire body in general space (walking or
running in a zigzag pathway).
- Review
loco motor movement as a way to get from one place to another in
general space (walk, run, gallop, skip, roll, etc.) and axial movement
as a way to move in personal or self-space (bend, stretch, reach, curl,
etc.)
- Have
students make a list of several loco motor and axial movements.
MODELING
- Show
students examples of lines. You can either draw them yourself or use
ready-made cards that show samples of lines: curved lines (including
squiggly or curly lines, arcs, etc.), straight lines and zigzag lines
(a series of lines that go back and forth that have sharp angles).
- Using a
single sheet of unlined 8 _” x 11” paper:
- Ask
students to fold the paper in half, it doesn’t matter which
direction.
- On one
side of the paper, place a large dot anywhere on the paper.
- On the
other side of the paper, place another large dot anywhere on the paper
- Ask
students to connect the two dots using any type of line (curved,
straight, zigzagged, dotted, circular, wiggly, etc.).
- If a
student draws a simple straight line to connect the dots that is OK,
but try to encourage their creativity by drawing squiggles, zigzags,
circles, loops, combining straight and curved, etc. to connect one dot
to the other.
- Check the
students’ drawing as you walk around the room.
- Using a
sample that you drew yourself or a ready-made sample, ask students to
identify the kinds of lines they see (curved, straight, zigzag,
combinations, etc.).
- Model
tracing your line in the air then ask students to trace the same line
in the air with their fingers/hand (this is axial movement).
- Ask
“Can you move your whole body while you write with your
finger?”
- Encourage
students to bend, twist, and reach high and low while tracing in the
air using very large movements.
- Ask
“Can you draw these initials with another body
part?”
- Guide
students through the drawing of the initials using their head, elbow,
foot, etc.
- Remind
students that they are making pathways in the air with their body parts
in personal or self space as they are moving (students are not to move
around the room).
- Use
dance vocabulary as you describe what you are seeing while students are
moving; e.g. speed, level, energy, etc.
- Now, using
their own original line drawing, ask students to trace their line in
the air with their hand/fingers.
- Try
tracing your line with one other body part.
- When you
have found a student who has strong understanding of the concept, ask
for a demonstration for the class.
- Arrange
students in pairs and ask them to create a dance from one of their
drawings. (If time permits, you may do the other drawing on another
day).
- Pairs will
collaborate and discuss what kinds of lines are depicted in the drawing
they chose and how they might interpret it through movement.
GUIDED
PRACTICE (day 2)
- Review
lesson #1: “Remember how we drew lines and made a pathway
using different loco motor movements? Today we are going to create
original dances using the landforms we learned a few days ago.
- Review
“land forms” discussed in the “Where are
you?” lesson. Use the pictures from the flipchart to show how
you can become the landform.
- a. Example:
place your arms up in the air to show the mountains, or move arms in a
squiggly line to show waves or a river.
- b. Note: Make
sure students have ample space in which to move. It might be a good
idea to do this lesson outdoors.
- Arrange
students in pairs and ask them to create a dance from one of the
“Where are you?” prompt cards.
- Pairs will
collaborate and discuss what kinds of lines are depicted in the
movements they made and how they might interpret it through movement.
- Procedure:
- Ask
students to identify what kind of loco motor movement they will use.
- Ask
students to decide how they will move as a pair (e.g., one at a time,
imitate, mirror, or shadow, hold hands, etc.).
- Give
students about 5-7 minutes to explore and create a pathway dance.
- Remind
students to use large movement so that the pathway can be clearly seen.
- You may
have to set boundaries. (e.g., dance within a taped or painted square
or circle on the playground or in the classroom because students may
not use the space well thus making the dance hard to follow (too spread
out or too tight and crowded).
- Ask the
following questions:
- “What
kinds of lines did you see?”
- “What
did the dancers do to make their dance look like the drawing?"
Options:
- Ask
student pairs to change the level, speed, energy (wiggly, shaky,
floating, jerky, etc.), or emotion (sad, happy, tired, ill, sleepy) of
their dance.
- Ask the
audience how those new elements changed the dance.
- Ask
student pairs to create arm and body movement to accompany their
pathway dance.
CLOSURE
Teacher:
- “What
is a pathway? Explain.”
- “What
are the different ways we can show pathways with our bodies?”
- “What
was challenging about creating a dance from a picture? Why?”
- “What
was the process you and your partner took to choose the drawing to
dance?”
- “What
pathways are more challenging to create? Why?”
- “Which
pathways do you enjoy doing most? Why?”
- “Which
pathway do you think would use smooth, flowing movement? Why?”
- “What
type of movement energy would represent zigzag? Explain.”
- “What
was challenging about working in pairs to create a dance? What would
you differently?”
- “Which
pathways are easiest to do as sharp, jerky movements? Why?”
- “Which
pathways are easiest to do as smooth, slowing movement? Why?”
ASSESSMENT
Students will
demonstrate knowledge of concepts by successfully creating a sequence
of movement and performing it in front of the class.
EXTENSION
- Practice
walking to the playground and back to class in a variety of pathways
using several locomotor movements at different speeds, energies and
emotions. Add an arm motion to accompany and compliment the locomotor
movement.
- How many
ways can you move to the sink and back to your chair without doing the
same pathway twice?
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