Dance Lesson Ideas

Name of Activity: Performing Locomotor skills with the Christmas Macarena (December 2012)

Purpose of Activity: To challenge children to perform the hand movements of the Macarena while executing various locomotor skills as called out by the teacher.

Suggested Grade Level: K-5

Recommended music: Christmas Macarena from the Radio Disney Holiday Jams CD

Beginning dance formation: The dance is performed in a scatter formation. (Caution the members of the class to remember to respect other classmates' personal space.)

Description of Idea

Assessment Ideas:

Assessment can be based on knowledge of locomotor movements, i.e.:
1. Do students know how to execute the locomotor skill that is called out?
2. Do they know the difference between a jump and a hop or a skip and a gallop?
3. Also, through observation can the students execute the routine, perform the locomotor skill and stay with the rhythm of the song?

Adaptations for Students with Disabilities:

Children with cognitive disabilities can perform the first eight counts of the arm movements portion more slowly -- taking 16 counts to finish, then wiggle and clap.

Students in wheelchairs can do the arm movements one time through and then the next time through use different techniques to push their chair: (1) short, choppy movements for jumps, (2) forward or backward pushes, (3) use only R or L arm when hops are called, etc.