DANCING THROUGH THE FOUR SEASONS SPRING Author: Deborah Lipa-Ciotta | Tapestry Charter School | Buffalo, NY Grade Level: 1st Grade Length of lesson: 60 Minutes Tapestry Charter School, an Expeditionary Learning School, is a public school located in Buffalo, New York. All K-4th graders receive instruction in dance based on the New York State Standards for the Arts. Our 1st graders celebrate and dance all things related to the four seasons. This year-long curriculum blends an exploration of the elements of dance, improvisation and composition inspired by nature, weather, and the changing seasons. This lesson is one example of our celebration of spring with the beautiful poetry by Carl Sandburg, and dancing of Gene Kelly. This lesson is easily adaptable for all ages and fun for all! Essential question: Where do choreographers get ideas for dances? (spring season, nature, poetry) Learning Targets: I can improvise in my own unique style demonstrating the 8 patterns of the BrainDance inspired by spring images and poetry. I can improvise movement ideas inspired by spring images and poetry. Equipment: music device, computer, projector, enlarged printed copies of “Lines Written for Gene Kelly to Dance To” by Carl Sandburg, photo images relating to vocabulary in text YouTube film of “Lines Written to Dance To” performed by Gene Kelly and Carl Sandburg
1. Warming-up Quick Warm-up: Students take a “gallery walk” outside and around the school grounds to look for signs of spring in nature.
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