PEC: Lesson Plans for Physical Education

Name of Activity:

Dancing Directions

Purpose of Activity:

To reinforce the concepts of directional movements: right, left, up, down, side, diagonal, counterclockwise and clockwise using a dance.

Prerequisites:

Students should have had been taught directions in previous lessons.

Suggested Grade Level:

3-5

Materials Needed:

Music player.

Recommended music:

I Want Candy by Aaron Carter

Beginning dance formation:

Partners scattered in a good self space.

Description of Idea

Section 1:
Step R, L behind, step R touch L (Grapevine) while performing 2 arm circles clockwise in front of body (1-4)
Windshield wiper R, L, R, L-R (5, 6, 7 & 8)
Repeat with step L, R behind, step L, touch R (Grapevine) while performing 2 arm circles counterclockwise in front of body (1-4)
Windshield wiper R, L, R, L-R (5,6,7 & 8)
3 step turn to R (clockwise) (1-4)
Windshield wiper R, L, R, L-R (5, 6, 7, & 8)
3 step turn to L (counterclockwise) (1-4)
Windshield wiper R, L, R, L-R (5, 6, 7, & 8)

Section 2:
Slide diagonally R for 1 step, push hands apart diagonally R hand up and L hand down (1-4)
2 hands up right, 2 hands up left, 2 hands right down, 2 hands left down (1 count for each movement 5,6,78)
Slide diagonally L for 1 step, push hands apart diagonally L hand up and R hand down (1-4)
2 hands up right, 2 hands up left, 2 hands right down, 2 hands left down (1 count for each movement 5,6,7,8)
Push forward with arms as you step forward with R foot (1-4)
2 hands up right, 2 hands up left, 2 hands right down, 2 hands left down (1 count for each movement 5,6,7,8)
Push forward with arms as you step backward on R foot (1-4)
2 hands up right, 2 hands up left, 2 hands right down, 2 hands left down (1 count for each movement 5,6,7,8)

Section 3:
Right foot-heel, toe, heel, toe (1-4)
Reach to side with R arm, reach to side with L arm, both arms up, both arms down (1 count each movement for 5,6,7,8)
Left foot-heel, toe, heel, toe (1-4)
Reach to side with R arm, reach to side with L arm, both arms up, both arms down (1 count for each movement for 5,6,7,8)
Right foot-heel, toe, heel, toe (1-4)
Reach to side with R arm, reach to side with L arm, both arms up, both arms down (1 count for each movement for 5,6,7,8)
Left foot-heel, toe, heel, toe (1-4)
Reach to side with R arm, reach to side with L arm, both arms up, both arms down (1 count for each movement for 5,6,7,8)

The last part is a repeat of Section 2:
Slide diagonally R for 1 step, push hands apart diagonally R hand up and L hand down (1-4)
2 hands up right, 2 hands up left, 2 hands right down, 2 hands left down (1 count each for 5,6,78)
Slide diagonally L for 1 step, push hands apart diagonally L hand up and R hand down (1-4)
2 hands up right, 2 hands up left, 2 hands right down, 2 hands left down (1 count each for 5,6,7,8)
Push forward with arms as you step forward with R foot (1-4)
2 hands up right, 2 hands up left, 2 hands right down, 2 hands left down (1 count each for 5,6,7,8)
Push forward with arms as you step backward on R foot (1-4)
2 hands up right, 2 hands up left, 2 hands right down, 2 hands left down (1 count each for 5,6,7,8)

Video

Submitted by Debbie Fay who teaches at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. Additional authors for this idea were Jordan Brown and Alyssa Morano. Thanks for contributing to PE Central! Posted on PEC: 5/9/2015.

Viewed 27023 times since 4/16/2015.

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Dancing Directions

Previous Comments:

Hope

This is great lesson to teach dancing well layed out for students to follow

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