Musical Storytelling with Dance

Jonathan Doctor

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Musical Storytelling with Dance

Creativity and Narrative Understanding through Dance

In this lesson, students will create a story and use dance movements to represent different characters and events. This encourages creativity and helps students understand narrative structures. It also enriches students' artistic and kinesthetic skills while promoting collaboration. Separate sections are provided for different grade bands to tailor the activities to the appropriate age and developmental stages.

Audience

K-12 Students

Time

30 mins per grade band

Approach

Creativity and Narrative Understanding through Dance

Materials

Worksheet: Story Planning Worksheet

Step 1

Warm-Up (K-2)

5 mins

Lead the students in a simple follow-the-leader dance activity to get them moving and engaged.
Include movements that mimic different animals (e.g., hopping like a bunny, stomping like an elephant).

Step 2

Warm-Up (3-5)

5 mins

Lead the students in a brief stretching routine followed by a series of creative movement exercises.
Encourage students to explore different ways to move across the space (e.g., skipping, tip-toeing, spinning).

Step 3

Warm-Up (6-8)

5 mins

Begin with a series of dynamic stretches to warm up the muscles.
Follow this with a short improvisation exercise where students create movements based on descriptive words provided by the teacher (e.g., sharp, smooth, heavy).

Step 4

Warm-Up (9-12)

5 mins

Start with a series of targeted stretches focusing on flexibility and balance.
Move into a brief dance combination that includes various techniques and styles to challenge and inspire students.

Step 5

Introduction

5 mins

Greet the students and introduce the concept of Musical Storytelling through Dance.
Explain that they will create a story and use dance movements to represent different parts of the story.
Discuss how movements can represent emotions and actions in a story (e.g., big steps for a giant).

Step 6

Story Creation (K-2)

10 mins

Divide the students into small groups.
Hand out the simplified Story Planning Worksheet to each group.
Instruct the groups to create a short and simple story and note down their story on the worksheet.

Step 7

Story Creation (3-5)

10 mins

Divide the students into small groups.
Hand out the Story Planning Worksheet to each group.
Instruct the groups to create a short story and note down their story on the worksheet.

Step 8

Story Creation (6-8)

10 mins

Divide the students into small groups.
Hand out the Story Planning Worksheet to each group.
Instruct the groups to create a more detailed story and note down their story on the worksheet.

Step 9

Story Creation (9-12)

10 mins

Divide the students into small groups.
Hand out the advanced Story Planning Worksheet to each group.
Instruct the groups to create a complex story and note down their story on the worksheet.

Step 10

Dance Representation (K-2)

10 mins

Instruct the groups to assign simple dance movements to different characters and events in their story.
Allow time for each group to practice telling their story with the dance movements.

Step 11

Dance Representation (3-5)

10 mins

Instruct the groups to assign more varied dance movements to different characters and events in their story.
Allow time for each group to practice telling their story with the dance movements.

Step 12

Dance Representation (6-8)

10 mins

Instruct the groups to assign complex dance movements to different characters and events in their story.
Allow time for each group to practice telling their story with the dance movements.

Step 13

Dance Representation (9-12)

10 mins

Instruct the groups to assign intricate and expressive dance movements to different characters and events in their story.
Allow time for each group to practice telling their story with the dance movements.

Step 14

Presentation and Reflection (K-2)

5 mins

Have each group present their story to the class using the dance movements.
After each presentation, conduct a brief discussion with the class about the stories and the use of dance.
Reflect on how dance can enhance storytelling and the emotions it can convey.

Step 15

Presentation and Reflection (3-5)

5 mins

Have each group present their story to the class using the dance movements.
After each presentation, conduct a brief discussion with the class about the stories and the use of dance.
Reflect on how dance can enhance storytelling and the emotions it can convey.

Step 16

Presentation and Reflection (6-8)

5 mins

Have each group present their story to the class using the dance movements.
After each presentation, conduct a brief discussion with the class about the stories and the use of dance.
Reflect on how dance can enhance storytelling and the emotions it can convey.

Step 17

Presentation and Reflection (9-12)

5 mins

Have each group present their story to the class using the dance movements.
After each presentation, conduct a brief discussion with the class about the stories and the use of dance.
Reflect on how dance can enhance storytelling and the emotions it can convey.

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Worksheet

Story Planning Worksheet

This worksheet will help students plan their story by noting down characters, events, and the sequence of their story.

Title of the Story:

What do you want to call your story?

Characters in the Story:

Who are the characters?

Events of the Story:

What happens in the story?

Sequence of the Story:

What happens first, next, and last?