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Swing Your Partner!
This was written for ESOL learners, but could work for any elementary class. Learners read about the American dance style known as Square Dancing. They explore its use in literature, write a friendly letter about it, and then use their...
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Michael Jackson's “Beat It” Dance
Looking for a line dance? Look no further. This dance is performed to Michael Jackson's "Beat It". It is comprised of four eight-counts. The moves consist of walking forward, swinging the hips, doing the grapevine, walking backwards, and...
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Square Dances
If you are teaching square dancing, this word search puzzle provides 30 related terms to locate. Definitions are not included.
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Swing Your Partner
Students work together to paint a square set on a piece of asphalt. In pairs, they use the square set to participate in a variety of square dances. To end the lesson, they decorate the squares to help them remember the correct steps to...
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Groovy 60s Dances!
1960s dances: The Twist, The Jerk, The Swim, The Monkey, The Mashed Potato, The Watusi, The Hitchhiker, and The Boog-a-loo. Introduce your class to the dances of the 60s. Find Motown music, watch online videos that show the different...
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Swiss Ball Square Dance
Combine square dancing and a Swiss ball. There are quite a few square dance moves and how to do them while sitting on, or carrying a Swiss ball. Teach these square dance moves to the class. Then have them work together in small groups to...
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Dance: Discovering the Culture of Gullah
It's wonderful to see a lesson plan that incorporates art, movement, and writing. These three forms of creative expression are explored as learners dance to music from the Gullah people of West Africa. They analyze several paintings,...
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Swing your Partner: The Basics of Square Dancing
Students perform square dancing steps. In this square dancing lesson plan, students view a video to learn the basic steps. Students discuss the history of the dance and perform with partners.
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The 'Language of Dance'
Learners choreograph dances. In this dance choreography lesson plan, students evaluate musical selections, then create a dance that capture the emotion of the music.
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Swing Your Partner! It's A Virtual Square Dance
Young scholars explore the Wessels Living History Farm website and research how to do a square dance. They read a story, listen to an explanation of barn dances, and participate in various square dances.
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Music - Dancing To the Beat
Second graders discover the rhythm in music. Students walk around in a circle, swinging a ribbon to the beat of music. While keeping a steady beat, 2nd graders respond to suggested alterations to their rhythm.
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Cool Line
This dance activity focuses on lots of arm movements. Arm circles, raise-the-roof, swinging arms, and clapping are the main arm movements. There is movement stepping right and stepping left as well as steps forward and steps backward. It...
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Rock This Party
Watch this video to learn the line dance steps that are performed to the song "Rock This Party" by Bob Sinclair. The written directions are a little confusing but after watching the video it all makes sense. This is a 32-count dance that...
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Hot, Hot, Hot, Cold
Learners dance the image of falling snow. They move, swing, fall, and rise to music working to depict snow falling, the sun, and high/low movements. This is a well-thought out lesson that aids them in seeing movement as a form of...
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Meet Louis Prima!
Learners discover the difference in major and minor tonality after a brief introduction to Louis Prima. They discuss swing dancing and Louis Prima's role in the "Jungle Book" as the character King Louis. Students listen to the song...
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Shape In Dance
Students engage in a lesson that is about the concept of shapes. They practice moves that are used to illustrate different types of shapes. Students participate in body movements that are focused around the directions of the body like...
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50's Dance Day
Students observe and demonstrate a variety of dances from the 1950's. In class they practice The Swing, Bunny Hop, Stroll, and The Twist, then participate in a Fifties Dance Day party. Students dress up for the dance and participate in...
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Aztec Dance
Seventh graders study Aztec dance to learn about their culture and civilization. In this Aztec study instructional activity, 7th graders watch a video of Aztec dancers and describe the dance on an index card. Students visit a website to...
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Irish Dancing: The Walls of Limerick
Students practice their dancing skills. For this Irish dancing lesson, students follow the provided instructions to dance with a partner in a group to the tune "The Walls of Limerick."
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"Performance Qualities" Dance Lesson Plan
Eighth graders move across a space practicing a dance as they work on focus and energy.
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"Spatial Awareness" Dance Lesson Plan
Seventh graders explore spatial awareness and then choreograph a dance.
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Irish Dancing - The Siege of Ennis
Students practice Irish Dancing. In this physical education lesson, students dance with partners to the song "The Siege of Ennis".
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Dance Through the Ages
Students integrate the study of the Revolutionary War through dance. They study many dances such as The Waltz, Charleston, Swing, Fox Trot, 50's and 60's dances all the way to the current Cha Cha Slide. They study the social aspect,...