Pinkalicious & Peterrific: Space Dance

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Arts Education

Grade(s)

K, 1, 2

Overview

In this lesson plan, children explore the ways in which dance can represent the natural world. After watching video excerpts from the PBS KIDS series, PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC®, they learn a dance based on the movements of the Sun, planets, and stars. They then work together to choreograph their own version of a “space dance” and perform it for others.

Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): KG - Dance

AE17.D.K.7

Demonstrate movement and stillness using the basic elements of space, including line, shape, levels, and size.

UP:AE17.D.K.7

Vocabulary

  • Elements of Dance
  • Space
  • Tempo/ Speed
  • Energy
  • Basic movement qualities
  • Embody
  • Body Pattern
  • Shape
  • Locomotor/ Non-locomotor
  • Same side vs cross body
  • Spatial Awareness
  • General Space
  • Personal Space
  • Safety Principles in movement
  • Space
  • Prop

Essential Questions

EU: Space, time, and energy are basic elements of dance.
EQ: How do dancers work with space, time, and energy to communicate artistic expression?

Skills Examples

  • Explore shape examples: discuss what objects are straight. Show examples of said objects with the body (straight, curved, bent/ angled, size: big/ small).
  • Respond to music or other sound stimuli with free movement that matches varying tempo: fast, slow, moderate.
    • Engage in "freeze dance": respond to music or other sound stimuli through movement with varying tempo changes. When music/ stimuli pause, freeze in called out shape, size or level.
  • Observe and demonstrate movement qualities, such as hard/ heavy or soft/light, smooth or wavy, and slow or jerky.
    • Practice actions using varied movement qualities: stomp (hard), float (soft).
  • Demonstrate same side and cross-body locomotor and non-locomotor movements.
  • Display an awareness of physical space and apply principles of safety when sharing space with others in activities, formations and explorations.
    • Hold hands and form group shape formations.
    • Use locomotor movement (skip, hop, crawl, etc.) to travel in a group shape.
  • Discuss how we use space safely. Practice using safety principles discussed.
  • Demonstrate full body movement sequence through observation, demonstration, and repetition.
    • Practice learned sequence of heel, together right and left, and marching in place.
  • Practice and perform dance with others in the safety of classroom, gym or outside space.
  • Use a scarf to improvise flowing or staccato movement.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): KG - Dance

AE17.D.K.10

Demonstrate body patterning movements and body shapes.

UP:AE17.D.K.10

Vocabulary

  • Elements of Dance
  • Space
  • Tempo/ Speed
  • Energy
  • Basic movement qualities
  • Embody
  • Body Pattern
  • Shape
  • Locomotor/ Non-locomotor
  • Same side vs cross body
  • Spatial Awareness
  • General Space
  • Personal Space
  • Safety Principles in movement
  • Space
  • Prop

Essential Questions

EU: Dancers use the mind-body connection and develop the body as an instrument for artistry and artistic expression.
EQ: What must a dancer do to prepare the mind and body for artistic expression?

Skills Examples

  • Explore shape examples: discuss what objects are straight. Show examples of said objects with the body (straight, curved, bent/ angled, size: big/ small).
  • Respond to music or other sound stimuli with free movement that matches varying tempo: fast, slow, moderate.
    • Engage in "freeze dance": respond to music or other sound stimuli through movement with varying tempo changes. When music/ stimuli pause, freeze in called out shape, size or level.
  • Observe and demonstrate movement qualities, such as hard/ heavy or soft/light, smooth or wavy, and slow or jerky.
    • Practice actions using varied movement qualities: stomp (hard), float (soft).
  • Demonstrate same side and cross-body locomotor and non-locomotor movements.
  • Display an awareness of physical space and apply principles of safety when sharing space with others in activities, formations and explorations.
    • Hold hands and form group shape formations.
    • Use locomotor movement (skip, hop, crawl, etc.) to travel in a group shape.
  • Discuss how we use space safely. Practice using safety principles discussed.
  • Demonstrate full body movement sequence through observation, demonstration, and repetition.
    • Practice learned sequence of heel, together right and left, and marching in place.
  • Practice and perform dance with others in the safety of classroom, gym or outside space.
  • Use a scarf to improvise flowing or staccato movement.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): KG - Dance

AE17.D.K.18

Select and deomonstrate a movement in a dance and explain why it was chosen.

UP:AE17.D.K.18

Vocabulary

  • Recurring movement
  • Dance terminology
  • Movement choices

Essential Questions

EU: Criteria for evaluating dance vary across genres, styles, and cultures.
EQ: What criteria are used to evaluate dance?

Skills Examples

  • Identity recurring movements in an observed dance phrase (i.e., chaîne turns, step touch, marching, waving arms, and/or shoulder rolls). Demonstrate short and simple movement phrase that students can copy (i.e., step hop, step hop, chasse, chasse, step clap, step clap).
  • Perform simple social dance that students can copy (i.e., electric slide, chicken dance).
  • Perform simple dance movements and allow students to identify movements (i.e., plie, contraction, flexed foot, chasse, tendu).
  • Select a movement and explain what the movement may mean (i.e., jumping to show joy, slow walks to show exhaustion, hiding behind hands to show fear).

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 9: Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 1 - Dance

AE17.D.1.7

Create movement and stillness using changing elements of space.

UP:AE17.D.1.7

Vocabulary

  • Elements of Space: Shape, Level, Size, Direction, Pathway
  • Time: Tempo/ Speed
  • Tempi
  • Energy: Movement qualities
  • Embody
  • Locomotor
  • Non-locomotor
  • Direction
  • Explore
  • Spatial Awareness
  • Personal space
  • General space
  • Body awareness
  • Dance phrase
  • Space
  • Props

Essential Questions

EU: Space, time, and energy are basic elements of dance.
EQ: How do dancers work with space, time, and energy to communicate artistic expression?

Skills Examples

  • Demonstrate changes to level, size, direction and pathways in body shapes, locomotor and non-locomotor movement.
  • Create or recall locomotor movement in a variety of chosen pathways; zig zag, circular, straight (i.e., move in straight, curved, and zigzag pathways).
  • Join with others to make a circle, then work with others to change it to a square or line.
  • Create a curved shape on a low level.
  • Recognize steady beat and move to varying tempi of steady beat.
  • Observe, discuss and demonstrate changes in the energy and quality of given movement (jerky, smooth, melting, growing, bouncy, floppy).
  • Apply changes to a given movement sequence, making practiced steps jerky or smooth.
  • Question how changes in the way we do a movement can change the feel of it and also the appearance of it.
  • Demonstrate movement or steps in different facings and directions.
    • Skipping in a circle, reaching on a diagonal
  • Explore the space around their own body: How can they move without getting too close to another dancer, the wall, mirror, surroundings using perception of sight and body awareness.
  • Demonstrate unison movement in group formation (marching, skipping in a circle, etc.).
  • Discuss, identify and demonstrate ways to modify movement or placement in a group formation using perception of spatial awareness.
  • Modify an existing formation by utilizing more dance pathways.
  • Modify an existing dance phrase to utilize the space differently.
  • Perform a dance in theatre-in-the-round format.
  • Perform a dance in a non-traditional setting such as a football field.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 1 - Dance

AE17.D.1.10

Demonstrate a range of locomotor and non-locomotor movement concentrating on direction.

UP:AE17.D.1.10

Vocabulary

  • Elements of Space: Shape, Level, Size, Direction, Pathway
  • Time: Tempo/ Speed
  • Tempi
  • Energy: Movement qualities
  • Embody
  • Locomotor
  • Non-locomotor
  • Direction
  • Explore
  • Spatial Awareness
  • Personal space
  • General space
  • Body awareness
  • Dance phrase
  • Space
  • Props

Essential Questions

EU: Dancers use the mind-body connection and develop the body as an instrument for artistry and artistic expression.
EQ: What must a dancer do to prepare the mind and body for artistic expression?

Skills Examples

  • Demonstrate changes to level, size, direction and pathways in body shapes, locomotor and non-locomotor movement.
  • Create or recall locomotor movement in a variety of chosen pathways; zig zag, circular, straight (i.e., move in straight, curved, and zigzag pathways).
  • Join with others to make a circle, then work with others to change it to a square or line.
  • Create a curved shape on a low level.
  • Recognize steady beat and move to varying tempi of steady beat.
  • Observe, discuss and demonstrate changes in the energy and quality of given movement (jerky, smooth, melting, growing, bouncy, floppy).
  • Apply changes to a given movement sequence, making practiced steps jerky or smooth.
  • Question how changes in the way we do a movement can change the feel of it and also the appearance of it.
  • Demonstrate movement or steps in different facings and directions.
    • Skipping in a circle, reaching on a diagonal
  • Explore the space around their own body: How can they move without getting too close to another dancer, the wall, mirror, surroundings using perception of sight and body awareness.
  • Demonstrate unison movement in group formation (marching, skipping in a circle, etc.).
  • Discuss, identify and demonstrate ways to modify movement or placement in a group formation using perception of spatial awareness.
  • Modify an existing formation by utilizing more dance pathways.
  • Modify an existing dance phrase to utilize the space differently.
  • Perform a dance in theatre-in-the-round format.
  • Perform a dance in a non-traditional setting such as a football field.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 1 - Dance

AE17.D.1.15

Identify a movement or movement phrase that repeats to make a pattern within a dance.

UP:AE17.D.1.15

Vocabulary

  • Identify recurring movement.
  • Identify movements in culture dance or genre.
  • Utilize dance terminology to communicate.
  • Explain dance choices.

Essential Questions

EU: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
EQ: How is dance understood?

Skills Examples

  • View recorded or live dance phrases and identify patterns (i.e., Trisha Brown's Accumulation).
  • Observe an example of a simple canon.
  • Tap: flap, toe heel, shuffle, dig step
  • Ballet: plié, tendu, rond de jambe, chaîne
  • African Dance: hand waves, step touch, hops
  • View a recorded dance work and discuss what the dance may be about. Hypothesize the meaning of dance work (i.e., Alvin Ailey's Revelation, Martha Graham's Lamentation).
  • Improvise movement to specific music to evoke specific emotion
  • Explore and explain dance choices (i.e., Shaking hands to express frustration, holding heart to express love, pointing to ring finger to express marriage, saluting to express patriotism).

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 2 - Dance

AE17.D.2.4

Select movements that express an idea or emotion or follow a musical phrase and explain reasons for movement choices.

UP:AE17.D.2.4

Vocabulary

  • prompts
  • elements of dance
  • locomotor
  • non-locomotor
  • dance phrase
  • structure
  • concept and inspirations
  • for choreography
  • dance phrase
  • improvisation
  • notation

Essential Questions

EU: The elements of dance, dance structures, and choreographic devices serve as both a foundation and a departure point for choreographers.
EQ: What influences choice-making in creating choreography?

Skills Examples

  • Execute a sequence of movements in different ways (i.e., different levels, timing, directions, body parts).
  • Create a dance based on a short story, with a beginning, middle and end.
  • Create a dance to a short poem and explain why movement expressed the idea.
  • Improvise movement to verbs and adjectives. Recall the movement and sequence to repeat.
  • Using basic stick figures to draw shapes used in a series of movements.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 2 - Dance

AE17.D.2.7

Demonstrate clear directional movement that changes body shape, facings, or pathway in space.

UP:AE17.D.2.7

Vocabulary

  • Space
  • Shape
    • Symmetrical
    • Asymmetrical
  • Facing
  • Pathway
  • Time:
    • Accented beat
    • Downbeat
    • Duple meter
    • Triple meter
  • Utilize quality of movement
  • Embody
  • Locomotor
  • Non-locomotor
  • Personal space
  • General space
  • Spatial relationship
  • Body awareness
  • Space
  • Projection in performance
  • Production elements

Essential Questions

EU: Space, time, and energy are basic elements of dance.
EQ: How do dancers work with space, time, and energy to communicate artistic expression?

Skills Examples

  • Identify symmetrical and asymmetrical body shapes and examine relationships between body parts.
  • Differentiate between circling and turning as two separate ways of continuous directional change.
  • Recall and practice given steps or sequencing with facing or level changes (what was up, make it down, face the back instead of the front).
  • Create body shapes that change level and facings.
  • Demonstrate locomotor movement on a straight pathway, circular pathway, zig zag pathway; making clear changes when called out.
  • Identify the beat in metered music and execute movement on the downbeat (the 1) of duple and triple meter.
  • Demonstrate an accented movement (clap, stomp, or jump) only on the downbeat of a piece of music. Practice with different tempos and 2/4, 4/4, and 3/4 music.
    • Other examples: Waltz, triplet, walking, or marching.
  • Review the terms adverb and adjective and make a list of descriptive words, choose several and execute a given movement or sequence with the word in mind or explore the word with their body in free movement.
  • (i.e., bouncy, jiggly, loose, strong, etc.).
    • Other examples: Bouncy leap or floppy fall.
  • Demonstrate movement and sequencing that utilizes a variety of pathways for personal space and group formations.
    • Skipping across the floor followed by skipping in place.
  • Identify modifications for spatial placement in a dance phrase.
  • Repeat movement or sequencing in a group formation or group dance using an awareness of his/her own body in space and make modifications to adjust placement as needed or requested.
  • Practice using production elements (i.e., multimedia equipment, scenery, costumes, lighting).

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 2 - Dance

AE17.D.2.10

Demonstrate a range of locomotor and non-locomotor movements that alternate between personal space and general space.

UP:AE17.D.2.10

Vocabulary

  • Space
  • Shape
    • Symmetrical
    • Asymmetrical
  • Facing
  • Pathway
  • Time:
    • Accented beat
    • Downbeat
    • Duple meter
    • Triple meter
  • Utilize quality of movement
  • Embody
  • Locomotor
  • Non-locomotor
  • Personal space
  • General space
  • Spatial relationship
  • Body awareness
  • Space
  • Projection in performance
  • Production elements

Essential Questions

EU: Dancers use the mind-body connection and develop the body as an instrument for artistry and artistic expression.
EQ: What must a dancer do to prepare the mind and body for artistic expression?

Skills Examples

  • Identify symmetrical and asymmetrical body shapes and examine relationships between body parts.
  • Differentiate between circling and turning as two separate ways of continuous directional change.
  • Recall and practice given steps or sequencing with facing or level changes (what was up, make it down, face the back instead of the front).
  • Create body shapes that change level and facings.
  • Demonstrate locomotor movement on a straight pathway, circular pathway, zig zag pathway; making clear changes when called out.
  • Identify the beat in metered music and execute movement on the downbeat (the 1) of duple and triple meter.
  • Demonstrate an accented movement (clap, stomp, or jump) only on the downbeat of a piece of music. Practice with different tempos and 2/4, 4/4, and 3/4 music.
    • Other examples: Waltz, triplet, walking, or marching.
  • Review the terms adverb and adjective and make a list of descriptive words, choose several and execute a given movement or sequence with the word in mind or explore the word with their body in free movement.
  • (i.e., bouncy, jiggly, loose, strong, etc.).
    • Other examples: Bouncy leap or floppy fall.
  • Demonstrate movement and sequencing that utilizes a variety of pathways for personal space and group formations.
    • Skipping across the floor followed by skipping in place.
  • Identify modifications for spatial placement in a dance phrase.
  • Repeat movement or sequencing in a group formation or group dance using an awareness of his/her own body in space and make modifications to adjust placement as needed or requested.
  • Practice using production elements (i.e., multimedia equipment, scenery, costumes, lighting).

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 2 - Dance

AE17.D.2.15

Recognize dance movements that develop a pattern.

UP:AE17.D.2.15

Vocabulary

  • Identify recurring movement.
  • Create recurring movement.
  • Perform dance movements from a culture or genre and describe movement.
  • Identify meaning utilizing simple dance terminology.
  • Identify and explain movement to convey a theme or concept.

Essential Questions

EU: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
EQ: How is dance understood?

Skills Examples

  • Students create a call and response hand clapping rhythm and allow students to identify the pattern.
  • Students create a short phrase that includes a pattern of movement, then have other students identify the pattern.
  • View and/ or perform the Russian Troika, Charleston Bump, or Hoe Ana cultural dances.
  • Sauté to show surprise, melt to show sadness, leap to show happiness.
  • Identify the characters and describe the story in a narrative dance.
  • Draw a picture and write a caption in response to a live or recorded performance of dance.
  • Create short sentence that tell a story and have students improvise movement to describe the sentence.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

PBS

License Type

Custom

Accessibility

Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
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