Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Dance Groups in School

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Objectives stage is fundamental to direct the focus of the lesson and ensure that students clearly understand what is expected of them. By establishing clear and specific objectives, students can better prepare and actively participate in the proposed activities. This section also serves to align expectations between teacher and students, ensuring a mutual understanding of the expected learning outcomes.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to identify and discuss the essential elements of collective dances, emphasizing unique characteristics and potential difficulties encountered during execution.

2. Develop observation and critical analysis skills through practical in-class activities, where students apply the concepts studied at home about dance collectives.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction is designed to engage students and connect prior knowledge to the lesson topic. By using problem situations, students are encouraged to think critically about the practical challenges involved in collective dances, preparing the ground for a more in-depth discussion. The contextualization, in turn, serves to broaden students' understanding of the cultural and social importance of collective dances, encouraging a deeper appreciation of the subject.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are choreographers and need to create a dance for the entire class to participate in. What would be the challenges and advantages of working in such a large group?

2. Think of a popular Brazilian dance, such as frevo. What elements of this dance could be difficult to execute in a large group, like a whole class dancing together?

Contextualization

Collective dances are not only a form of artistic expression but also a way to promote unity and coordination among participants. They have roots in various cultures around the world, each bringing its particularities and challenges. For example, the maypole dance in Europe, where dancers execute intertwined movements around a pole, represents the arrival of spring and community unity. These dances have a rich history that can be explored to better understand the context in which they were created and the meaning behind the movements.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to practically and interactively apply the concepts studied at home. Through the proposed activities, students will have the opportunity to explore collective dances more deeply, developing teamwork, coordination, and cultural appreciation skills. Each activity is planned to be conducted in groups, stimulating collaboration and creativity while reinforcing learning about the various aspects of collective dances.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - World Dance Festival

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop research skills, teamwork, and cultural appreciation through the practice of collective dance.

- Description: In this activity, students will create and present a collective dance inspired by different cultures around the world. Each group will choose a specific culture and research a typical dance, focusing on its movements, meanings, and historical context.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group chooses a different culture (for example, Japan, Brazil, India, Spain).

• Research online or in books a typical dance from the chosen culture.

• Identify and note the main movements of the dance, their meanings, and the social or historical context in which the dance is performed.

• Create a simplified version of the dance that can be performed by the entire class.

• Rehearse the dance with the group, focusing on synchronization and the expression of movements.

• Present the dance to the class, explaining the cultural and historical elements involved.

Activity 2 - The Mirror Challenge

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Enhance motor coordination, observational ability, and synchronization among the students.

- Description: Students will participate in an activity where they must create a collective dance that is a mirrored reflection of the neighboring group. This activity works on synchronization, observation, and creativity of the students.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of 5, positioned in two parallel lines.

• Each group in line A observes the corresponding group in line B and vice versa.

• One group initiates a sequence of simple movements.

• The observing group must imitate, trying to synchronize their movements with the group performing the movements.

• The roles are reversed, and group B becomes the observer while group A executes the movements.

• The activity is repeated swapping groups around so that everyone has the opportunity to lead and follow the movements.

Activity 3 - Dance and Tell Your Story

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Encourage personal expression and mutual understanding through dance and storytelling.

- Description: In this activity, students will use dance to express a story or a significant event from their lives, transforming these narratives into choreographed movements that will be presented to the class.

- Instructions:

• Students are divided into groups of 5.

• Each group chooses a member to share a personal story or a significant event.

• Based on the shared story, the group creates a dance that visually represents the narrative.

• The other group members help to transform the story into choreographed movements.

• The groups rehearse their dances and then present them to the class.

• After the presentation, the group explains the story behind the choreography.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to consolidate the learning acquired during the practical activities, allowing students to articulate and reflect on their experiences. Group discussion helps develop communication and argumentation skills, as well as providing an environment for sharing different perspectives and solutions found. This stage also serves for the teacher to evaluate students' understanding of dance collectives and clarify any lingering questions.

Group Discussion

To start the group discussion, the teacher can ask each group to briefly share the experiences they had during the activities. A round of presentations can begin, where each group summarizes what they learned and what challenges they faced. Then the teacher can facilitate the discussion, encouraging students to compare the different dances and processes of creation. Questions such as 'What were the most challenging aspects of trying to synchronize the movements?' or 'How did the story you chose influence the movements of the dance?' can be used to stimulate reflection and dialogue among the students.

Key Questions

1. What skills do you think were most important to coordinate the movements in your dances?

2. How did researching the chosen culture help you better understand the dance you created?

3. Was there any moment when you had to change the choreography? Why?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion stage is to ensure that students have a clear and consolidated understanding of the contents addressed during the lesson. Summarizing key points helps reinforce learning, while explaining the connection between theory and practice and discussing the cultural relevance of collective dances serves to consolidate the importance of the topic. This stage also provides a moment for students to reflect on what they learned and how they can apply this knowledge in other contexts.

Summary

In conclusion, the teacher should summarize the main points discussed about collective dances, highlighting the characteristics, challenges, and solutions found by students during the activities. The explored dances should be recapitulated, such as the typical dance chosen by each group and the choreographed movements, reinforcing the importance of prior research and practical application.

Theory Connection

During the lesson, the theory studied at home was directly applied in practical activities, such as creating dances inspired by cultures around the world and expressing personal stories through dance. This approach not only solidified theoretical knowledge but also demonstrated how theory can be experienced and enriched through practice, establishing a clear bridge between learning and application.

Closing

Finally, it is essential to highlight the relevance of collective dances in the cultural and social context, emphasizing how these practices promote unity among people and the expression of identities. Understanding and participating in collective dances not only enriches students' cultural repertoire but also fosters teamwork, coordination, and personal expression.