Telling Stories Through Movement
The students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic dance elements and choreographic structures. Students will be able to demonstrate higher level thinking by utilizing the 5-step writing process to write a short story with a small group and then transforming that story into movement that tells the story. Students must use problem-solving skills to create movement that represents the story created. Once the students have written the story, the students then must use the same process to create the choreography. Students will be assessed on their ability to create choreography that demonstrates a beginning, middle, and end. Students will also be assessed on their ability to successfully express the story through their movement. By the end of this unit, students should develop an understanding of how to utilize basic dance elements and choreographic structures and their role in dance performances. Students should be prepared to utilize the choreographic process in future lessons.
Lesson Created By: LaTanyuaPrice
Lesson Partners: ABC (Arts in Basic Curriculum)
Essential Question
How can choreography be used to tell a story?
Grade(s):
- 5
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Smartboard
Various dance video snippets
Paper and pencil for the 5-step writing process
Small group checklists
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
https://www.liferichpublishing.com/AuthorResources/General/5-Step-Writing-Process.aspx
https://youtu.be/5thlDekSnVU
https://youtu.be/2-7Mpi9kLR8
https://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons/grade-3-4/Telling_a_Story_Dance
Class group assignment / narrative
Weighted checklist for performance
Worksheet for peer assessment
Lesson Progression
Teacher will:
- Introduce the choreography lesson by having students participate in a group warm-up activity. A series of ideas and phrases will be verbally given by the teacher and the students will improvise by creating movement to communicate the idea or phrase given.
- Briefly lecture how choreography is used to communicate the artist’s feelings or experiences.
- Show examples of various pieces from the beginning of dance up until today. This will lead into a discussion of what idea or story was being told and what different movements the choreographer used to tell the story or communicate the idea.
- Model how to use different movements and choreographic principles to communicate an idea or phrase.
- Lead a discussion on how choreographing dances and writing stories are similar. This will lead into the 5 step process.
- Model how to use the 5 step writing process to write a story and show how the same process can be used to create choreography.
- Divide students into smaller groups to begin brainstorming their idea and story.
- Give time for groups to complete the 5-step process of writing their story.
- Instruct the groups to use their story to help them brainstorm ways to communicate the story through movement.
- Allow time for the groups to perform their pieces to the class.
- Lead a class discussion on what story or idea each piece communicated to the class.
- Instruct the groups to take into consideration the stories or ideas that the class said was communicated and compare them to their original story. From the discussion, the groups will add, change, modify, or re-arrange their movements to communicate their ideas or stories more efficiently to the audience.
- Repeat this process until the groups are satisfied with their finished piece.
- Give the groups time to select an instrumental piece of music to use for their piece. The groups will then set their choreography to the music selected.
- Allow time for each group to perform the finished piece with accompaniment.
- Give the class an opportunity to score each piece according to the provided rubric given.
Story Through Movement
This file includes the group story page, 5-step Writing process Checklist, 5-step Choreographic process Checklist, Choreography Assessment Rubric
View Resource5-Step Writing Process
Every writer follows his or her own writing process. Often the process is a routine that comes naturally and is not a step-by-step guide to which writers refer. Being conscious of your own writing process is especially helpful when you find yourself struggling with a particularly tricky piece. Here are five steps towards creating or identifying your personal writing process.
View ResourceEvolution of Ballet: 1830-2017
A compilation of 100 choreographic works from 1830 to 2017, showing how ballet has evolved through the years.
View ResourceModern Dance: Dance Evolution
A documentary on the History of Modern Dance and how it Evolved Dance.
Telling a Story Through Dance
This lesson introduces students to the concept of emotionally and physically telling a story through dance and pantomime. Students will learn that in ballet the dancer is trained to act out the story/character with movement instead of words. The Nutcracker will serve as the foundation for the lesson and activities.
View ResourceStandards
- De.C Connecting - I can relate artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.
- W.MCC Meaning, Context, and Craft
- D.C Connecting - I can relate artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.
- D.CR Creating - I can conceive and develop new artistic ideas and work.
- T.P Performing/Producing/Presenting - I can produce new artistic ideas and work from a variety of materials, techniques, and processes.
- T.C Connecting - I can relate artistic ideas and work to personal meaning and external context.
- T.CR Creating - I can conceive and develop new artistic ideas and work.
Assessments
Students will be assessed with a checklist for the small group 5-step writing process. Students will also conduct a peer assessment of remaining groups.