Dance is a valuable aspect of education as it provides a nurturing space to facilitate the enjoyment of learning, discipline, courage; and creativity and for children to use their cognitive functions in fresh ways. It is self-esteem building as children gain confidence in their ability to follow instructions. As children build and deepen their understanding of dance and the arts, they will see how it connects with the visual art of dance, as it is a means of story telling through movement. Children gain opportunities for self-expression through art, irrespective of their own skill or familiarity to then actively participate in ways that signifies their unique qualities as individuals. In addition, children are able to transfer cognitive processes to other core subjects.

 

The expressive intention for the three lessons was to facilitate a balance of both creating and making experiences and responding experiences.

 

+ Emotional: develop the affective aspects to convey their thoughts and emotions through creative channels and explore ways of moving in response to stimulus material. Student can represent their ideas about seasons and the characteristics of each season

+ Creativity: to make connections between text, music and movement and being able to respond to the narrative or mood communicated through the lesson

+ Mental capacity: to understand the elements of dance with focus on space, energy, time, body, speed, level, symmetry and asymmetry and the development of dance related terminology

+ Cognitive: to use knowledge to change or combine components of dance to create new effects, follow sequences, direction and gain accuracy. Students can consider I.S.A.R.E principles with opportunities to improvise, refine, arrange and also reflect on learning.

+ Social: to improve communication skills, to work as part of a team and to cooperate and develop connections with others

+ Physical: to gain mastery of their physical self through coordination, muscle and strength control, awareness of personal space, and balance. Using G.L.E.F.T.S body actions through, locomotion, elevation, turning, falling, hand gestures and practicing stillness to understand other ways of being.

 

Lessons are combined with both teacher-led and student-led activities for students from grades one to two.