The Science of Movement

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Arts Education

Grade(s)

K

Overview

Students will watch a video about break dancing.  They will observe items in their home and around their community that move.  They will have a dance party, move to suggested motions, and react to various tempos in different songs. 

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

AE17.D.K.5

Use suggestions from peers or instructors to change movement through structured improvisational activities.

UP:AE17.D.K.5

Vocabulary

  • locomotor
  • non-locomotor
  • non-locomotor vs locomotor movements
  • elements of dance
  • choreography
  • improvisation
  • structure
  • concepts and inspiration for choreography
  • feedback and revision
  • notation

Essential Questions

EU: Choreographers analyze, evaluate, refine, and document their work to communicate meaning.
EQ: How do choreographers use self-reflection, feedback from others, and documentation to improve the quality of their work?

Skills Examples

  • Demonstrate locomotor and non-locomotor movements (i.e., running, skipping, twisting, falling).
  • Identify elements of movement that are personally difficult to perform and discuss how this impacts movement choice in choreography.
  • Identify how it feels to perform the same movement fast and slow.
  • Create a connected shape, improvise while disconnected, and finish back in original connected shape.
  • Perform improvised movement based on a famous painting.
  • Identify how the movement changes if an element is performed differently, such as taking the movement from a high level to a low level.
  • Create three movements and develop a symbol to go with each (such as ⟲ for turn).

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): KG - Dance

AE17.D.K.8

Demonstrate tempo changes with movements that match music or sound stimuli.

UP:AE17.D.K.8

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.13

Dance for and with others in designated space.

UP:AE17.D.K.13

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: Dance performance is an interaction between performer, production elements, and audience that heightens and amplifies artistic expression.
EQ: How does a dancer heighten artistry in a public performance?

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 6: Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.

CR Resource Type

Learning Activity

Resource Provider

PBS

License Type

CUSTOM
https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/science-of-movement-whats-good/the-s…

Custom License Type (URL)

https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/

Accessibility

Text Resources: Content is organized under headings and subheadings

Comments or Notes

Log into the website https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/.  The website offers free activities and lesson plans and will align standards to the Alabama COS. 

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