Primary School Dance
for Reception and Key Stage
1
Additional Information
The teaching material in the Key Stage
1 Primary School Dance manual has been organised to form a complete
and detailed scheme which includes long term, medium term and short
term planning.
How do you use the scheme?
- Long Term Planning
- In the Teaching Guide the unit titles are set out in a grid
to enable easy identification of Long Term Planning. There is
more than enough material available for each year group and this
enable schools and teachers to exercise choice when planning.
The co-ordinator (in discussion with staff) identifies which
of the four units of work will be used in each year group and
places them in the relevant time slots.
- Medium Term Planning
- At the beginning of each unit of work, the medium term plan
is detailed. It contains learning objectives, unit framework
and expected learning outcomes together with references to the
skill development section at the back of the manual and to "TOP
play" links. For Foundation Stage the Medium Term
Plan follows the same format, but in addition, references are
detailed for linking up "Action Kids Physical Development
with Fun" activities.
- Short Term Planning
- The detailed lesson plans form the short-term planning. The
detailed content allows teachers to rise them in a way which
is compatible with their levels of confidence and skill.
The scheme comprises 4 units of work (24
lesson plans) for each
year group, however, flexibility is also built in to allow, for
example, the use of dances for reception to be used in Year 1 by
adding more detail of movement or working with a partner. The whole
scheme has been written to develop children’s knowledge,
skills and understanding, in a progressive manner. Learning Objectives,
Expected Learning Outcomes and dance frameworks both for each unit
and for each dance clarify planning and focus learning. The lesson
plans are written in great detail so they can be used immediately
as they stand or adapted to suit the expertise or teaching style
of the teacher or the attitude and ability of the class.
All lesson plans have been thoroughly tried and tested, however,
the rate at which individual classes progress may be very different.
Whatever the rate of progress there will always be more than enough
material for one lesson in each lesson plan and indeed, in some
cases, they could be extended to two or even three lessons. This
abundance of lesson material allows a teacher to choose for example,
4 from 6 lessons from a unit in order to follow a topic being worked
on at the time, then revisit the unit later for the unused lesson
material. Each dance has a page of ideas for stimuli and related
activities. Many of the activities have photocopiable masters in
the appendices.
There is a range of styles of music, 12 traditional pieces and
37 pieces specially designed for the dances. There are:- simple,
complex, orchestral, funky, and story telling music, some with
special sound effects.
The dances arise from a wide range of stimuli; tactile, the elements,
stories, poems, music etc. The dances gradually progress from individual
through to pair work and some small group dances, with all of them
generating creative and imaginative ideas.
Foundation Stage dances include suggestions for linked classroom
activities. Many of these activities focus on accessing the Early
Learning Goals in other Areas of Learning whilst remaining directly
linked to the theme of the dance.
Throughout the manual, skills and movement materials are obviously
repeated, revised and extended in different creative situations.
This enables children to improve the quality and depth of their
performances and to extend their knowledge and understanding. A
gradual development of choreographic awareness and understanding
of the language of dance will enable children to observe and appreciate
each other’s work and describe what they see and feel, using
appropriate vocabulary.
Minimum expected standards of performance are identified with
activities directly linked to Attainment Target levels, so assessment
is more clearly defined. Assessment sheets are also provided.
Photocopiable - Copyright Waived
The manual is printed on good quality card enclosed in a
sturdy four-ring binder for intensive use. If the manual is kept
centrally
in the staff room, a teacher can extract, photocopy and return
lessons as often as required to build up a personal dance file.
Providing it is a school that has purchased the manual the special
copyright waiver allows unlimited photocopying within that school.
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