Ms V's BIG dance BOX
I created this resource to help my Dance Leaders get their head around delivering dance to Moorpark primary pupils. It's been a great success. I will get the leaders to evaluate it at the end of the year however, I've been getting very positive vibes so far. I reckon it could act as a great resource for you as a Primary Teacher; 1. as a way to keep all the dance stuff together and 2. to act as a reminder of the things you want to try and do throughout your dance block.
The idea behind the Box was to have everything you need to create a great 4 week dance block inside one box. The trick behind the box is that the great stuff is inside you as the leader or teacher, but the box acts as a 'crutch' or stimulus to keep you on track. Not to mention the great source of interest for the primary kids who see you pushing a huge cardboard box into the gym and wonder what on earth is in store for them.
The idea behind the Box was to have everything you need to create a great 4 week dance block inside one box. The trick behind the box is that the great stuff is inside you as the leader or teacher, but the box acts as a 'crutch' or stimulus to keep you on track. Not to mention the great source of interest for the primary kids who see you pushing a huge cardboard box into the gym and wonder what on earth is in store for them.
My Dance leaders were the ones who did the writing which helped them to understand what it was all about. As we created each side to the box, we covered the content we were writing about.
In order to make best use of the box it is best that you have a 32 beat dance phrase already as a stimulus. My dance leaders all had to source some dance choreography they liked from you tube. We spent a few weeks using the lap top learning them all before the girls set to work making IMovies of themselves breaking the dance down and teaching it. This means that they became very confident with their moves and the teaching techniques required. This was time consuming in a positive way, however, if you have a large class you will need to limit the number of dances you produce. We managed to produce 6 between August and December. If you don't have time to learn a dance and practice as my dance leaders did, get the Data projector up in your gym hall and project a you tube dance clip on the wall for the kids and you to learn all together. Then you can use the Big Dance box as a way of expanding the dance you have learned :0) x
Alternatively there is nothing to stop you and the class making up your own dance using the ABC of basic Dance resource or the A-Z of Topic Dance resource I have detailed in previous pages.
ON THE TOP
This is probably the most important side of the box. The lid means you get to see this information every time you go inside. Essential information was: The equipment that you need close to hand (and ideally inside the box)
Praise Phrases were there for my sports leaders but I doubt you as a teacher would need a reminder of them. However it's still a good thing to have as your older pupils can use it to help with peer evaluation, praise or feedback.
The Ten Commandments is a sports leader thing but it helped my Dance leaders remember what they needed in order to feel prepared and confident. Nothing to stop you from having on your box for your older pupils who may be asked to lead a warm up or teach a section of dance to their group or peers.
STEPs to Success is the the anagram used by TOP sport to help us remember how to adapt the lesson so that it suits everyone and allows everyone to achieve some form of success. Again, another great tool for any budding leaders within your group and a gentle reminder to those of us that need a wee helping hand now and again.
THE WARM UP SIDE
This side of the box, acted as a wee reminder of other suitable warm ups if the one the Dance leader had planned didn't work. Or in some cases helped out those that hadn't planned at all!!! Each of the warm ups detailed on this are specific to dance but can be used for gymnastics or indeed some games or athletics sessions. I will attach a file giving descriptors of each warm up as soon as I get some time.
The TASK SIDE
This side of the box was covered in a quick summary of the tasks we had looked at as a way to expand on a simple dance phrase. It was a great way to ensure the dance leaders didnt get stuck for ideas and showed them how much you can actually get out of one set dance.
I have attached the Tasks below under the heading of "DL Dance Tasks".
THE 4 WEEK LESSON PLAN SIDE
Does exactly what it says on the box. This is just one way that you can deliver a dance block using your stimulus, there are load of ways. Why not make this an interchanging side with alternative Block Planners hiding on the inside.
THE PROP SIDE
Although the idea was to have everthing inside one box, it is pretty impossible to keep all props inside the box so I thought a list would remind you and your pupils of other props that you could possibly access or make to help you expand on your set dance.
It's not really realistic to have all the same props for every child, so we based it around the fact that the maximum we would have in a group is 6. So we tried to have 6 of each Prop inside the box or close by. Props included: Scarves, Cowboy hats, pom poms, gymnastic ribbons, sunglasses, gloves, masks, camoflage face paints, a set of 6 red t-shirts, umberellas etc. The idea would be that the groups could rotate the props around. There is a task card specifically for the Props but I'm sure you probably wouldnt even need it. Its amazing how much creativity comes from putting on a hat or a pair of Sunglasses!!!!
INSIDE THE BOX
Ideally you would have some of the props, an ipad or camera for pupils to record and see their dances, the task cards, the Washing maching game to help if you or the pupils are really struggling to come up with some ideas and some basic percussion instruments. In addition you can have a non-participants busy book (we will talk about that later) and an Officals bag to help the pupils adopt roles such as choreographer, reporter, production manager/producer, time keeper,and stage manager.
In order to make best use of the box it is best that you have a 32 beat dance phrase already as a stimulus. My dance leaders all had to source some dance choreography they liked from you tube. We spent a few weeks using the lap top learning them all before the girls set to work making IMovies of themselves breaking the dance down and teaching it. This means that they became very confident with their moves and the teaching techniques required. This was time consuming in a positive way, however, if you have a large class you will need to limit the number of dances you produce. We managed to produce 6 between August and December. If you don't have time to learn a dance and practice as my dance leaders did, get the Data projector up in your gym hall and project a you tube dance clip on the wall for the kids and you to learn all together. Then you can use the Big Dance box as a way of expanding the dance you have learned :0) x
Alternatively there is nothing to stop you and the class making up your own dance using the ABC of basic Dance resource or the A-Z of Topic Dance resource I have detailed in previous pages.
ON THE TOP
This is probably the most important side of the box. The lid means you get to see this information every time you go inside. Essential information was: The equipment that you need close to hand (and ideally inside the box)
Praise Phrases were there for my sports leaders but I doubt you as a teacher would need a reminder of them. However it's still a good thing to have as your older pupils can use it to help with peer evaluation, praise or feedback.
The Ten Commandments is a sports leader thing but it helped my Dance leaders remember what they needed in order to feel prepared and confident. Nothing to stop you from having on your box for your older pupils who may be asked to lead a warm up or teach a section of dance to their group or peers.
STEPs to Success is the the anagram used by TOP sport to help us remember how to adapt the lesson so that it suits everyone and allows everyone to achieve some form of success. Again, another great tool for any budding leaders within your group and a gentle reminder to those of us that need a wee helping hand now and again.
THE WARM UP SIDE
This side of the box, acted as a wee reminder of other suitable warm ups if the one the Dance leader had planned didn't work. Or in some cases helped out those that hadn't planned at all!!! Each of the warm ups detailed on this are specific to dance but can be used for gymnastics or indeed some games or athletics sessions. I will attach a file giving descriptors of each warm up as soon as I get some time.
The TASK SIDE
This side of the box was covered in a quick summary of the tasks we had looked at as a way to expand on a simple dance phrase. It was a great way to ensure the dance leaders didnt get stuck for ideas and showed them how much you can actually get out of one set dance.
I have attached the Tasks below under the heading of "DL Dance Tasks".
THE 4 WEEK LESSON PLAN SIDE
Does exactly what it says on the box. This is just one way that you can deliver a dance block using your stimulus, there are load of ways. Why not make this an interchanging side with alternative Block Planners hiding on the inside.
THE PROP SIDE
Although the idea was to have everthing inside one box, it is pretty impossible to keep all props inside the box so I thought a list would remind you and your pupils of other props that you could possibly access or make to help you expand on your set dance.
It's not really realistic to have all the same props for every child, so we based it around the fact that the maximum we would have in a group is 6. So we tried to have 6 of each Prop inside the box or close by. Props included: Scarves, Cowboy hats, pom poms, gymnastic ribbons, sunglasses, gloves, masks, camoflage face paints, a set of 6 red t-shirts, umberellas etc. The idea would be that the groups could rotate the props around. There is a task card specifically for the Props but I'm sure you probably wouldnt even need it. Its amazing how much creativity comes from putting on a hat or a pair of Sunglasses!!!!
INSIDE THE BOX
Ideally you would have some of the props, an ipad or camera for pupils to record and see their dances, the task cards, the Washing maching game to help if you or the pupils are really struggling to come up with some ideas and some basic percussion instruments. In addition you can have a non-participants busy book (we will talk about that later) and an Officals bag to help the pupils adopt roles such as choreographer, reporter, production manager/producer, time keeper,and stage manager.
dl_dance_tasks1.ppt | |
File Size: | 177 kb |
File Type: | ppt |