Write an expressive art lesson plan specifically a dance strand and involve warm up, dance and cool down?

Title: Exploring Emotions Through Movement

Grade Level: 4th-6th grade

Objective: Students will explore different emotions through movement and express themselves creatively through dance.

Materials Needed: Music player, open space for dancing

Warm Up (10 minutes):
1. Start by having students stand in a circle and take deep breaths together to center themselves.
2. Lead students through a series of stretches to warm up their bodies, focusing on the arms, legs, and core.
3. Play upbeat music and have students freestyle dance around the room, encouraging them to move freely and express themselves through movement.

Dance (30 minutes):
1. Introduce the concept of using movement to express emotions. Discuss different emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, and excitement.
2. Play different pieces of music that evoke these emotions and have students dance to each one, focusing on how they can use their bodies to convey the feeling.
3. Divide students into small groups and have them create a short dance piece that represents a specific emotion. Encourage them to use different levels, dynamics, and movements to convey their chosen emotion.
4. Have each group perform their dance for the class and discuss how they were able to effectively communicate the emotion through their movements.

Cool Down (10 minutes):
1. Have students sit in a circle and reflect on how they felt during the dance activity. Ask them to share what emotions they were able to express through their movements.
2. Lead students through a guided relaxation exercise, focusing on releasing tension in their bodies and calming their minds.
3. End the lesson by having students stand up and take a final deep breath together, bringing their focus back to the present moment.

Assessment: Observe students' participation and engagement during the dance activities. Take note of their ability to convey different emotions through movement and provide feedback on their creativity and expression.

Lesson Plan: Dance Strand

Grade Level: Elementary/Middle School

Time: 45 minutes

Objectives:

- Students will engage in a variety of warm-up exercises to prepare their bodies for dance.
- Students will learn and perform basic dance steps and explore creative movement.
- Students will actively participate in a cool-down activity to reduce muscle tension and facilitate relaxation.

Materials:

- Music player
- Music playlists
- Markers or tape for floor markings

Procedure:

1. Warm-up (10 minutes)

- Circle Stretch: Students stand in a circle facing inward. They hold hands and gently pull their arms overhead, stretching their shoulders and backs.
- Arm Circles: Students extend their arms to the sides and make large, circular motions forward and backward.
- Leg Swings: Students stand with their feet shoulder-width apart. They swing one leg forward and back, then repeat with the other leg.
- Jumping Jacks: Students perform jumping jacks to increase heart rate and warm up their legs.

2. Dance (20 minutes)

- Step and Clap: Play music with a steady beat. Students step forward with their right foot and clap their hands. They repeat with their left foot.
- Grapevine: Students line up in a row. They step forward with their right foot, then cross their left foot behind their right. They repeat the pattern, switching feet.
- Cha-Cha: Play cha-cha music. Students perform basic cha-cha steps: right-side touch, left-side touch, back step, then repeat.
- Creative Movement: Give students a theme or prompt and encourage them to create their own dance moves. For example: "Dancing in the Rain" or "Moving like Animals."

3. Cool-down (10 minutes)

- Static Stretching: Students hold stretches for 20-30 seconds. They stretch their arms, legs, hips, and backs.
- Controlled Breathing: Students lie on their backs. They inhale slowly and deeply through their nose, expanding their abdomen. They exhale slowly through their mouth.
- Body Scan: Students sit quietly and focus on each part of their body, from head to toe. They notice any sensations or areas of tension.
- Guided Relaxation: Play calming music. Lead students through a guided relaxation exercise, encouraging them to visualize a peaceful and serene place.

Assessment:

- Observe students' participation and effort during the warm-up, dance, and cool-down activities.
- Assess students' ability to perform basic dance steps correctly.
- Encourage students to reflect on their creative movement and how it expresses their ideas.