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Return to Index Page for VAPA Lesson Plans

AZTEC DANCE

Click here to download this lesson plan in Microsoft Word format.
Click here to download the flipchart that goes with this lesson.

Arts Discipline: Dance

Grade level— 6th Grade

Standards: Dance 1.5 Artistic Perception: Describe and analyze movements observed and performed, using appropriate dance vocabulary.

Approximate time— 35-40 minutes

Topic— Students will be able to identify and explain traditional Aztec dance using dance vocabulary.

Rationale— It is important for students to learn this because it gives them a better understanding of the Aztec culture as studied in the story Lost Temple of the Aztecs in the Language Arts 4th theme.

Objectives— Historical & Cultural Context: During the introduction of the lesson, students will research and discuss the significance of the Aztec dance.

Interdisciplinary Connections— Language Arts: Theme 4, Standard 2.3 Connect and clarify main ideas by identifying their relationships to other sources and related topics.

Strategy-- Direct Instruction--teacher directed Group Process—Small Group, Whole Group

Vocabulary—

locomotor- actions of the body that cover space (walk, run, skip, hop, jump, slide, leap, gallop, step-hop, grapevine, polka, waltz, and two-step)
non-locomotor- actions of the body that do not cover space (bend, stretch, twist, swing, push, pull, rise, fall, dodge, sway body alignment, balance, isolation body parts, elevation, and landing dance movements vs. athletic and pedestrian movements)
Purposes: the reasons why people dance

artistic- dances (ballet, jazz) created and performed in order to convey a meaning.
ceremonial (initiation)- dances, which are performed at celebrations (wedding dances), or ceremonies, (Native American dances: hunting, war, rain etc...)
recreational- dances (folk, line, square dance, tap , social) performed in social settings

dance composition- a group of dance movements with a beginning, middle and end
expressive qualities- ideas and emotions communicated by the movement patterns of a dance composition
narrative - A choreographic form that tells a story in movement
Elements of Dance: the basic parts of dance; movement, space, time and force
movements- actions made by the body

Introduction— Students will be shown a variety of pictures of Aztec dancers. (http://www.tlanextli.com/)

Procedures—

Teacher will show the video of the Aztec dancers. (http://www.tlanextli.com/video.htm)
Teacher will ask the students to brainstorm what they saw.
Teacher will have the students describe the dance in an index card.
The teacher will then have students brainstorm ideas on the question of “Why do people dance?”
Teacher will then give students a historical background on the Aztec culture and dances. (http://www.zihrena.com/kuahucihuatl/azteca2.htm)
Teacher will discuss the vocabulary words with the students.
Students will be separated into groups and be assigned 2 vocabulary words to simplify in a way that they could remember the meaning.
The groups will then share out their own definitions for the words.
Teacher will then write out the student’s definitions on the Flipchart.
Teacher will then show the video of an Aztec dance once again. (http://www.tlanextli.com/video.htm)

Closure— Students will once again describe the dance using at least three vocabulary words.

Assessment--

Student summaries should incorporate concepts discussed during the lesson or observation made on the video.

Resources/Materials—

Promethean Board/Projector
Internet access
Paper/pencil
Index cards

NSD > Educational Services > Classroom Resources > Lesson Plans > Vapa > 6DanceLangThm4 > Aztec Dance

May 17, 2012