Moving with Mathematics 2-3

MOVING WITH MATHEMATICS

MOVING WITH MATHEMATICS

Learning Description

In this lesson, students will explore the concepts of fractions by creating dances using locomotor and non-locomotor movements.

 

Learning Targets

GRADE BAND: 2-3
CONTENT FOCUS: DANCE AND MATH
LESSON DOWNLOADS:

Download PDF of this Lesson

"I Can" Statements

“I Can…”

  • I can choreograph dances that match mathematical and movement criteria.

  • I can correctly solve math problems involving fractions. 

  • I can identify the fraction and movement type in performances.

Essential Questions

  • How can movement and choreography enhance understanding of fractions?

 

Georgia Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 3: 

3.NR.4: Represent fractions with denominators of 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 in multiple ways within a framework using visual models.

Arts Standards

Grade 3: 

ESD3.CR.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the choreographic process.

 

ESD3.CR.2 Demonstrate an understanding of dance as a form of communication.

 

ESD3.PR.1 Identify and demonstrate movement elements, skills, and terminology in dance

 

ESD3.RE.1 Demonstrate critical and creative thinking in dance.

 

South Carolina Standards

Curriculum Standards

3.NSF.1 Develop an understanding of fractions (i.e., denominators 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10) as numbers. 

  1. A fraction (called a unit fraction) is the quantity formed by one part when a whole is partitioned into equal parts; b. A fraction is the quantity formed by parts of size. A fraction is a number that can be represented on a number line based on counts of a unit fraction; d. A fraction can be represented using set, area, and linear models.

 

3.NSF.2 Explain fraction equivalence (i.e., denominators 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10) by demonstrating an understanding that: 

  1. two fractions are equal if they are the same size, based on the same whole, or at the same point on a number line; b. fraction equivalence can be represented using set, area, and linear models; c. whole numbers can be written as fractions (e.g., 4 = 4 / 1 and 1 = 4 / 4 ); d. fractions with the same numerator or same denominator can be compared by reasoning about their size based on the same whole.

Arts Standards

Anchor Standard 1: I can use movement exploration to discover and create artistic ideas and works.

 

Anchor Standard 2: I can choreograph a dance.

 

Anchor Standard 3: I can perform movements using the dance elements.

Anchor Standard 7: I can relate dance to other arts disciplines, content areas, and careers.

 

 

Key Vocabulary

Content Vocabulary

  • Fraction - A number representing part of a whole

  • Numerator - Represents the number of parts out of the whole that are being considered
  • Denominator - Represents the total parts of something

Arts Vocabulary

  • Choreographer - A person who creates dances

  • Beat - Basic unit of musical time; can be heard as a regular pulse underlying music
  • Dance composition/choreography - Creating the movements in dances
  • Chassé - A gliding dance step with a pattern of step-together-step
  • Locomotor - A movement that travels through space
  • Non-locomotor - A movement that does not travel through space
  • Pathway - The designs traced on the floor as a dancer travels across space; the designs traced in the air as a dancer moves various body parts

 

Materials

  • Sound source and music
  • Paper and pencils
  • Written criteria for choreography on cards

 

Instructional Design

Opening/Activating Strateg

  • Begin the lesson by engaging students in movement that introduces students to the locomotor and non-locomotor movement.
  • Have students arrange themselves in a circle with enough personal space to move freely without touching a neighbor.
    • Turn on instrumental music with a steady beat.
  • First, have students bring awareness to their bodies by leading them through gentle stretches starting from the head and moving to the toes (e.g., head circles, shoulder shrugs, toe touches, etc.).
  • Introduce non-locomotor movements to students by directing them in the following movements.
    • Bending and Stretching: Bend the knees and stretch up high.
    • Twisting: Twist the torso to the left and right.
    • Swinging: Swing the arms gently from side to side.
    • Swaying: Sway the body from side to side with feet planted.
    • Turning: Spin in place, both directions.
    • Invite students to create their own movement.
  • Introduce non-locomotor movements to students by directing them in the following movements.
    • Walking: Walk around the room with different styles (tiptoeing, heel walking, big steps, small steps).
    • Jumping: Jump in place, then move forward and backward.
    • Chassé: Step-together-step by gliding.
    • Invite students to create their own movement.
  • Combine locomotor and non-locomotor movements.
    • Traveling with Twists: Walk across the room while twisting the torso.
    • Sway and slide: Sway the upper body while sliding sideways across the room.
    • Step and turn: Take three steps forward, then turn in place (repeat, moving in different directions).
    • Invite students to create their own movement.
  • Debrief the difference between locomotor and non-locomotor movements with students. Check for understanding by stating different types of movements and see if students can identify which type of movement it is.

 

Work Session

  • Tell students that in this lesson they will be using locomotor and non-locomotor movements to choreograph a dance that they will perform for the class. 
  • Turn on music and help students find the steady beat by walking in place.
    • Now, count the beats into eight beat sections. 
    • Have students count the eight beats along with you. 
    • Practice adding some locomotor and non-locomotor movements as you complete the eight count.
  • Divide the sections into fractions (i.e., ½ of eight beats is four beats, ¼ of eight beats is two beats, ¾ of four beats, ¼ of four beats, etc).
    • Guide students in choreographing a dance in which ½ uses locomotor movements and ½ uses non-locomotor movements. Help students think about the different patterns they could use to arrange movements.
  • Break students into groups and pass out cards with criteria on them.
    • Students will create a movement sequence or dance using the learned movements from the warm-up (or movements that they create) and the criteria assigned to them.

Closing Reflection

  • The students will perform their choreography for their classmates. Discuss appropriate audience participation and etiquette prior to performances.
  • After each group performs, the audience will identify the fractions that the group illustrated using locomotor and non-locomotor movements.

 

Assessments

Formative

Teachers will assess students’ learning by observing students’ ability to identify locomotor and non-locomotor movements in the activator, understanding of fractions, and collaboration with their groups to choreograph a dance based on fractions that uses locomotor and non-locomotor movements.

 

Summative

CHECKLIST

  • Students can choreograph dances that correctly match mathematical and movement criteria (fractions and locomotor/non-locomotor movements). 
  • Students can identify the fraction and movement type being performed.

 

 

DIFFERENTIATION 

Acceleration: 

  • Challenge students by incorporating other types of dance elements such as levels.
  • Have students write their own math problem and choreograph a dance based on their problem.

Remediation: 

  • Scaffold the lesson by analyzing a math problem and choreographing a dance together that correctly matches the fractions to locomotor and non-locomotor movements.
  • Have students all use the same mathematical criteria. Solve the problem together as a class and then have students choreograph their dances.

Ideas contributed by: Melissa Dittmar-Joy. Updated by Katy Betts.

Revised and copyright: June 2024 @ ArtsNOW

 

Back to Modules

PROBLEM SOLVING WITH MOVEMENT 4-5

PROBLEM SOLVING WITH MOVEMENT

PROBLEM SOLVING WITH MOVEMENT

Learning Description

In this lesson, students will explore problem solving through creating dances and discover why problem solving skills are so important for choreographers.

 

Learning Targets

GRADE BAND: 4-5
CONTENT FOCUS: DANCE & MATH
LESSON DOWNLOADS:

Download PDF of this Lesson

"I Can" Statements

“I Can…”

  • I can identify and perform the Elements of Dance.
  • I can decipher a given word problem.
  • I can solve a given word problem.
  • I can create and perform choreography that demonstrates the solution to a given word problem.

Essential Questions

  • How can math be used to inspire choreography?

 

Georgia Standards

Curriculum Standards

*This lesson can be used with any math standard that lends itself to being expressed as a word problem.

Arts Standards

Grade 4: 

ESD4.CR.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the choreographic process.

 

ESD4.CR.2 Demonstrate an understanding of dance as a form of communication.

 

ESD4.PR.1 Identify and demonstrate movement elements, skills, and terminology in dance

 

ESD4.RE.1 Demonstrate critical and creative thinking in dance.

 

Grade 5:

ESD5.CR.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the choreographic process.

 

ESD5.CR.2 Demonstrate an understanding of dance as a form of communication.

 

ESD5.PR.1 Identify and demonstrate movement elements, skills, and terminology in dance

 

ESD5.RE.1 Demonstrate critical and creative thinking in dance.

 

 

South Carolina Standards

Curriculum Standards

*This lesson can be used with any math standard that lends itself to being expressed as a word problem.

 

Arts Standards

Anchor Standard 1: I can use movement exploration to discover and create artistic ideas and works.

Anchor Standard 2: I can choreograph a dance.

Anchor Standard 3: I can perform movements using the dance elements.

Anchor Standard 7: I can relate dance to other arts disciplines, content areas, and careers.

 

 

Key Vocabulary

Content Vocabulary

  • *Specific content vocabulary will depend on the math concept students are learning.

Arts Vocabulary

  • Choreography - The art of composing dances and planning and arranging the movements, steps, and patterns of dancers
  • Choreographer - A person who creates dances
  • Non-locomotor - This refers to a movement that does not travel through space
  • Locomotor - This refers to a movement that travels through space
  • Steady beat - An unchanging, continuous pulse
  • Elements of Dance - Body, action, space, time and energy

 

Materials

  • Sound source and music with a steady beat
  • Paper and pencils
  • Written word problems on cards

 

 

Instructional Design

Opening/Activating Strategy

Classroom Tips: Allow for some open space to create and perform. Review audience etiquette expectations before students perform for their peers.

 

  • Play Pass the Movement with students.
    • Begin by having students stand in a circle.
    • The objective of the game is to create a sequence of movements by passing a dance move around the circle or group, with each student adding their unique twist.
    • Each student will create a simple movement and "pass" it to the next student, who will then repeat the movement and add their own.
    • Choose one student to start the game. This student will perform a simple movement, such as a clap, a jump, a spin, or a wave. Encourage students to focus on creating shapes and angles with their bodies.
    • The starting student then "passes" this movement to the next student by making eye contact and gesturing towards them.
    • The next student repeats the initial movement and then adds their own unique movement.
    • This student then "passes" the combined movements to the next student.
    • Each subsequent student repeats the previous movements in the correct order and adds their own new movement.
    • Continue passing the movement around the circle or along the line until all students have had a turn.
    • Once the movement has gone all the way around, have the group perform the entire sequence together from start to finish.

 

 

 

Work Session

    • Tell students that they will be using the Elements of Dance to enact the solution to a word problem.
  • Begin by engaging students in movement that introduces students to the Elements of Dance: Body, action, space, time and energy.
    • Have students arrange themselves in the classroom with enough personal space to move freely without touching a neighbor.
    • Turn on instrumental music with a steady beat.
    • Element of Body: First, have students bring awareness to their bodies by leading them through gentle stretches starting from the head and moving to the toes (e.g., head circles, shoulder shrugs, toe touches, etc.). Then, ask them to make different shapes with their bodies.
    • Element of Time: Next, bring students’ awareness to the rhythm of the music by having them march in place to the beat, gently swinging their arms by their sides.
    • Element of Energy: Now, direct students to explore energy variations with different movement qualities such as sharp movements–quick, precise actions like punches or snaps, and smooth movements–slow, flowing actions like waves or circles with arms.
    • Element of Space - Levels: Bring students’ attention to levels (high, middle, low) with movements such as stretching up high and moving on tiptoes, crouching in a small ball close to the floor, and bouncing in place at a middle level.
    • Element of Action - Locomotor/non-locomotor: Tell students that these movements they just performed were non-locomotor, meaning that they didn’t move to a new location. Direct students to perform a movement that requires moving from one place to another, such as step-together, step-together moving side to side.
    • Have students practice what they just learned by saying words such as “locomotor” and have students create a spontaneous locomotor movement.
    • Have students return to their seats.
  • Next, divide the class into small groups. Assign each group a word problem (it can be the same word problem or different word problems depending on students’ levels).
    • For example, “You must choreograph a dance combination that is 4 counts of 8 in length. The dance must have an equal number of locomotor and non-locomotor movements.”
    • Students should solve the word problem mathematically. For example, “What is the total number of counts in the dance (32)? How many locomotor movements will you have (16)? How many non-locomotor movements will you have (16)?”
    • Next, students will create choreography to answer the word problems. Students can arrange their choreography as they would like as long as it meets the criteria of the word problem.
      • Example 1: First 4 counts - locomotor movement, second 4 counts - non-locomotor, third 4 counts - locomotor, fourth 4 counts - non-locomotor, fifth 4 counts - locomotor movement, sixth 4 counts - non-locomotor, seventh 4 counts - locomotor, eighth 4 counts - non-locomotor.
      • Example 2: First 4 counts - non-locomotor, second 4 counts - locomotor, third 4 counts - locomotor, fourth 4 counts - non-locomotor, fifth 4 counts - locomotor, sixth 4 counts - locomotor, seventh 4 counts - non-locomotor, eighth 4 counts - non-locomotor.
      • Both dances have 32 counts total, 16 of which are locomotor and 16 of which are non-locomotor.

 

Closing Reflection

  • The students will perform their movement phrases for their classmates. Discuss appropriate audience participation and etiquette prior to performances.
  • After students perform, groups will read their word problem to the class, show their solution and how it went with their performed choreography.
  • If all groups used the same word problem, discuss how different groups created different choreography based on the same criteria.

 

Assessments

Formative

Teachers will assess students’ understanding of the content throughout the lesson by observing students’ participation in the activator, ability to make different types of movements using the Elements of Dance, ability to understand and correctly solve the word problem, and collaboration in group choreography.

 

Summative

CHECKLIST

  • Students can identify and perform the Elements of Dance.
  • Students can decipher the given word problem.
  • Students can solve the given word problem.
  • Students can create and perform choreography that correctly demonstrates the solution to the given word problem.

 

 

 

DIFFERENTIATION 

Acceleration: Raise the challenge of the word problem by including more steps, such as a minimum of four different types of movements that students will select and perform.

Remediation: 

  • Scaffold the lesson by solving a word problem as a class and creating choreography as a class before individual group choreography.
  • Differentiate the level of word problems depending on student ability.

 

*This integrated lesson provides differentiated ideas and activities for educators that are aligned to a sampling of standards. Standards referenced at the time of publishing may differ based on each state’s adoption of new standards.

Ideas contributed by: Melissa Dittmar-Joy. Updated by Katy Betts.

Revised and copyright: June 2024 @ ArtsNOW

 

Back to Modules

BE ONE WITH THE WATER 6-8

BE ONE WITH THE WATER

BE ONE WITH THE WATER

Learning Description

Students will explore states of matter and the water cycle by bringing water to life with their bodies. By enacting the changes that water molecules experience, students will learn scientific information kinesthetically.

 

Learning Targets

GRADE BAND: 6-8
CONTENT FOCUS: DANCE & SCIENCE
LESSON DOWNLOADS:

Download PDF of this Lesson

"I Can" Statements

“I Can…”

  • I can explain the stages of the water cycle, how molecules behave in each state, and how I showed this using my body.
  • I can use my body to enact the different states of matter.
  • I can explain how energy impacts changes in states of matter.

Essential Questions

  • How can the process of acting increase comprehension of states of matter and the water cycle?
  • How does energy relate to changes in states of matter?
  • What are the stages of the water cycle?

 

Georgia Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 6:

S6E3. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to recognize the significant role of water in Earth processes.

 

  1. Plan and carry out an investigation to illustrate the role of the sun’s energy in atmospheric conditions that lead to the cycling of water. (Clarification statement: The water cycle should include evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, infiltration, groundwater, and runoff.)

Arts Standards

Grade 6:

TA6.PR.1 Act by communicating and sustaining roles in formal and informal environments.

 

TA6.CN.1 Explore how theatre connects to life experience, careers, and other content.

 

South Carolina Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 6:

6-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.

Arts Standards

Anchor Standard 3: I can act in improvised scenes and written scripts.

Anchor Standard 8: I can relate theatre to other content areas, arts disciplines, and careers.

 

Key Vocabulary

Content Vocabulary

  • Water cycle - A continuous process by which water moves through the Earth's atmosphere, surface, and underground
  • Evaporation - Water from oceans, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water turns into water vapor due to the heat from the sun. This also includes transpiration from plants, where water is absorbed by roots from the soil and released as vapor from the leaves.
  • Condensation - The water vapor rises into the atmosphere and cools, forming tiny droplets that gather to create clouds. This process changes water vapor back into liquid or solid form, such as droplets or ice crystals.
  • Precipitation - When these droplets or ice crystals become too heavy, they fall to the Earth's surface as precipitation, which can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
  • Infiltration - Some of the water that reaches the ground seeps into the soil, replenishing groundwater supplies
  • Runoff - Water that doesn't infiltrate the ground flows over the surface and collects in bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. This water will eventually evaporate and continue the cycle.

 

  • Sublimation - In colder regions, snow and ice can change directly into water vapor without melting first, contributing to the water vapor in the atmosphere.
  • Deposition - The reverse of sublimation, where water vapor changes directly into ice without becoming liquid first, often forming frost

Arts Vocabulary

  • Theater - Dramatic literature or its performance; drama
  • Character - A person, an animal or other figure assuming human qualities, in a story

 

  • Voice – An actor’s tool, which we shape and change to portray the way a character speaks or sounds

 

  • Body – An actor’s tool, which we shape and change to portray the way a character looks, walks, or moves
  • Improvisation - A creation that is spoken or written without prior preparation

 

Materials

  • Sound source and music
  • Masking tape

 

Instructional Design

Opening/Activating Strategy

  • Ask students what a sound effect is. Ask a couple of students to demonstrate examples of sound effects like a car engine.
  • Next, tell students that they will be using their voices and bodies to create sound effects responding to the teacher’s prompts. Set noise level and movement guidelines for students before beginning.
  • Tell students:
  • “Make the sound of water droplets hitting the ground. Is it rain, a hose, a sprinkler, a spilled glass? You decide.”
  • “Now make the sound of ice hitting something. Is it an ice storm, or ice in a glass from an ice maker or ice tray? Is it hail? You decide.”
  • “Now make the sound of water as a gas. Is it steam from a boiling pot of water? Rain evaporating off of concrete after a storm? You decide.”
      • Debrief the activity with students. Ask them why some states of matter are easy to add sound to and some are not.
    • Tell students that now they will use their bodies to enact the different states of matter.
  • Teacher note: Because students may come in physical contact with each other  during the activity, set parameters and expectations for student behavior prior to the activity.
    • Process:
      • Direct students’ attention to the large square on the floor made with masking tape.
      • Liquid State: Ask your students to come into the middle of the space and get as close together as they can while still being able to move around freely amongst one another.  Students should stay in the middle of the space. Ask students how their movement is like a liquid state.
      • Solid State:  Tell your students that you will be taking away energy from the group.  Ask students what they think should happen when they lose energy. (The group will not be able to move as much, moving slower and slower, eventually ceasing movement.)
      • Gaseous State:  Now tell your students that you will begin pumping energy into the square. The students will be able to move again without holding onto each other. Note that so much energy may enable some of the students to bounce out of the square, and eventually all of the students will be able to go anywhere in the room (they will not be contained by the square anymore).  Remind students that if they "bump into" anything (stress that they should not really crash) they will bounce off in a new direction.
      • Comment on the fact that the group has expanded to fill all of the available space.
      • Ask students what the square might represent (a container) and why they were not confined to it when they changed into a gaseous state (students should think about a pot of boiling water).
    • Facilitate a discussion around the following questions:
      • “What was each state?”
        • Moveable but contained in the shape
        • Not moveable in the shape
        • Bouncing all over, not contained to the shape
      • “What else do you know that has these three states?”

 

Work Session

  • Tell students that they will be using a similar process to enact the water cycle.
  • Tell students to find their own space in the room.
  • Ask the students to describe some places where water is on the earth.  Tell students that when the music starts, they should become bodies of water when the music starts. They can be the ocean, a river, a pond, a puddle, etc.
    • Remind students of the physical shape of water–flat, low, etc.
    • Start music and allow students to move like water.
    • After a few minutes, ask the students to begin letting their water evaporate. Tell students to show the water evaporating, think about where it goes, and show how it rises up.
    • Remind students that if they are a droplet now, move lightly as a droplet would, using their whole bodies.
    • Now ask the students to imagine that they are rising as the water evaporates.
    • As they get higher the air is cooler and the water starts to condense.
    • Ask students to try to move more strongly, contracting as they come more solid.
    • Ask students to squeeze themselves into a cloud that keeps changing shape.
    • Now ask students to work together to become bigger and bigger clouds.
    • Next, ask students to imagine that their cloud has become so heavy that the vapor turns into rain.
    • Ask students to become the rain with their bodies. Are they big droplets? Or a steady spring rain? Remind students to use their whole bodies, including fingers, toes, etc.
    • Now ask students to become a body of water again. Make it a different body of water than before.
    • Repeat the process, altering the size of the cloud or type of precipitation, etc.
  • Debrief the activity with students. Ask students how they changed their bodies based on what state of matter they represented.

 

Closing Reflection

Students should write a reflection on the process, explaining the stages of the water cycle, how molecules behave in each state, and how they showed this using their bodies. This reflection can be done in students’ STEAM journals if they use one.

 

Assessments

Formative

Teachers will assess students’ understanding of the content throughout the lesson by observing students’ participation in the activator, ability to demonstrate various states of matter using their bodies, ability to enact the water cycle using their bodies, and ability to explain their movement choices.

Look for students who seem to be copying other students’ movements and not creating their own, this may indicate a lack of understanding.

 

Summative

CHECKLIST

  • Students can explain the stages of the water cycle, how molecules behave in each state, and how they showed this using their bodies.
  • Students can use their bodies to enact the different states of matter.
  • Students can explain how energy impacts changes in states of matter.

 

Differentiation

Acceleration: Challenge students to write a scene that incorporates dialogue in which each state of matter is personified. Students should create a character profile for each state of matter–this will include adding voice qualities and personalities to each state of matter. Students can then act out the scene.

Remediation: 

  • Use pictures and videos to help students understand how molecules behave in the different states.
  • Break students into small groups. Have them create the scene in which they demonstrate the water cycle in their groups instead as a whole class. This will allow the teacher to identify and work more closely with students who are struggling.

 

*This integrated lesson provides differentiated ideas and activities for educators that are aligned to a sampling of standards. Standards referenced at the time of publishing may differ based on each state’s adoption of new standards.

Ideas contributed by: Mary Gagliardi and Katy Betts.

Revised and copyright:  June 2024 @ ArtsNOW

Back to Modules

PROBLEM SOLVING WITH MOVEMENT 6-8

PROBLEM SOLVING WITH MOVEMENT

PROBLEM SOLVING WITH MOVEMENT

Learning Description

In this lesson, students will grasp and apply the order of operations to solve equations by developing choreography that illustrates each step of an equation.

 

Learning Targets

GRADE BAND: 6-8
CONTENT FOCUS: DANCE & MATH
LESSON DOWNLOADS:

Download PDF of this Lesson

"I Can" Statements

“I Can…”

  • I can represent the order of operations through movement.
  • I can create choreography that represents each step of an equation using the order of operations. 
  • I can accurately use the order of operations to solve an equation.

Essential Questions

  • How can movement aid in the comprehension of order of operations and solving equations?

 

Georgia Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 6:

6.PAR.6: Identify, write, evaluate, and interpret numerical and algebraic expressions as mathematical models to explain authentic situations.

6.PAR.6.4 Evaluate expressions when given values for the variables, including expressions that arise in everyday situations.

Arts Standards

Grade 6:

MSD.CR.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the choreographic process.

 

MSD.CR.2 Demonstrate an understanding of dance as a form of communication.

 

MSD.PR.1 Identify and demonstrate movement elements, technique, and terminology in dance. 

 

MSD.CN.3 Demonstrate an understanding of dance as it relates to other area of knowledge.

 

South Carolina Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 6:

6.EEI.1 Write and evaluate numerical expressions involving whole-number exponents and positive rational number bases using the Order of Operations.

 

6.EEI.2 Extend the concepts of numerical expressions to algebraic expressions involving positive rational numbers. 

  1. Evaluate real-world and algebraic expressions for specific values using the Order of Operations. Grouping symbols should be limited to parentheses, braces, and brackets. Exponents should be limited to whole-numbers.

 

Grade 7:

7.EEI.3 Extend previous understanding of Order of Operations to solve multi-step real-world and mathematical problems involving rational numbers. Include fraction bars as a grouping symbol.

Arts Standards

Anchor Standard 1: I can use movement exploration to discover and create artistic ideas and works.

 

Anchor Standard 2: I can choreograph a dance.

 

Anchor Standard 3: I can perform movements using the dance elements.

Anchor Standard 7: I can relate dance to other arts disciplines, content areas, and careers.

 

Key Vocabulary

Content Vocabulary

  • Order of operations -  A set of rules that dictates the sequence in which operations should be performed to ensure consistent and correct results; it is essential when an expression involves multiple operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponents, and parentheses

Arts Vocabulary

  • Movement phrase - A series of movements linked together to make a distinctive pattern
  • Non-locomotor - This refers to a movement that does not travel through space
  • Locomotor - This refers to a movement that travels through space
  • Steady beat - An unchanging, continuous pulse
  • Space - An element of movement involving direction, level, size, focus, and pathway
  • Level - One of the aspects of the movement element space; in dance, there are three basic levels: high, middle, and low
  • Choreography - The art of composing dances and planning and arranging the movements, steps, and patterns of dancers
  • Choreographer - A person who creates dances
  • Shape - This refers to an interesting and interrelated arrangement of body parts of one dance; the visual makeup or molding of the body parts of a single dancer; the overall visible appearance of a group of dancers

 

Materials

  • Sound source and music with a steady beat
  • Equations on cards that require students to use the order of operations

 

 

Instructional Design

Opening/Activating Strategy

Classroom Tips: Set up chairs and tables in a circular format to maximize students’ engagement and ability to see their peers during the activity and performance. Also establish parameters for acceptable movement choices and discuss audience behavior/etiquette with students.


  • Begin the lesson by engaging students in movement that introduces students to the Elements of Dance: Body, action, space, time and energy.
    • Have students arrange themselves in the classroom with enough personal space to move freely without touching a neighbor.
    • Turn on instrumental music with a steady beat.
    • First, have students bring awareness to their bodies by leading them through gentle stretches starting from the head and moving to the toes (e.g., head circles, shoulder shrugs, toe touches, etc.).
    • Next, bring students’ awareness to the rhythm of the music by having them march in place to the beat with high knees, swinging their arms side to side. 
    • Now, direct students to explore energy variations with different movement qualities such as sharp movements–quick, precise actions like punches or snaps, and smooth movements–slow, flowing actions like waves or circles with arms.
    • Finally, bring students’ attention to levels (high, middle, low) and directions (forward, backward, sideways) with movements such as stretching up high and moving on tiptoes, moving low to the ground and crawling forwards and backwards, and bouncing in place at a medium level.
    • Have students return to their seats.

 

Work Session

  • Review order of operations with students. 
  • Break the class into groups. 
  • Assign each group one of the following: Parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, or subtraction.
    • Each group should create a movement that demonstrates their operation.
    • Remind students to think about the movements from the warm-ups and how their levels and body shapes can communicate their concept.
    • Each group will teach their movement to the class.
    • Then, the whole class will perform the choreography together in the correct order of operations. 
  • Assign each group an equation that requires students to use the order of operations in order to be solved.  
  • Ask students to begin by solving their equation mathematically.
    • Next, ask students to create choreography in the order that is needed to solve an equation with the order of operations.
    • For example, if the equation is 19 + 40 ÷ 5 - (8 + 5 ) = X, students would create a movement to represent (8 + 5); 40 ÷ 5; 19 + 8; and finally 27 - 13.
      • Encourage students to incorporate the movements from the order of operations choreography in their equation choreography.

 

Closing Reflection

  • The students will perform their movement phrases for their classmates. Discuss appropriate audience participation and etiquette prior to performances.
  • Turn up the volume of the music and help students find the steady beat again by tapping their toe on the floor.
  • After each performance, students will share and post their equation with ordered sections in how they solved the problem and related it to the sections of choreography they created.

 

Assessments

Formative

Teachers will assess students’ understanding of the content throughout the lesson by observing students’ participation in the activator, ability to express the order of operations through movement, and ability to use the order of operations to solve an equation.

 

Summative

CHECKLIST

  • Students can represent the order of operations through movement.
  • Students can create choreography that represents each step of their equation using the order of operations. 
  • Students can accurately use order of operations to solve their equation.

 

 

DIFFERENTIATION 

Acceleration: Challenge students to create their own equation and create choreography to represent it using the order of operations.

 

Remediation: Assign each group a section of the equation to choreograph. Then, have students put their equation together to solve it using the order of operations.

*This integrated lesson provides differentiated ideas and activities for educators that are aligned to a sampling of standards. Standards referenced at the time of publishing may differ based on each state’s adoption of new standards.

Ideas contributed by: Melissa Dittmar-Joy. Updated by Katy Betts.

Revised and copyright: June 2024 @ ArtsNOW

 

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MOVEMENT AND MEASUREMENT 2-3

MOVEMENT AND MEASUREMENT

MOVEMENT AND MEASUREMENT

Learning Description

In this math and dance lesson, students will compare tall and short height through dance levels. With partners, they will participate in a mirror dance demonstrating their understanding of levels and measurements.

 

Learning Targets

GRADE BAND: 2-3
CONTENT FOCUS: DANCE & MATH
LESSON DOWNLOADS:

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"I Can" Statements

“I Can…”

  • I can use levels to compare movements that are taller and shorter.

  • I can use my body to demonstrate changes in levels and size.

  • I can use instruments of measurement, such as a ruler or meter stick, to test my conclusions.

  • Grade 3: I can choreograph a dance and organize the data into a line plot.

Essential Questions

  • How can dancers use levels to compare movements that are taller and shorter?

  • How can you use your body to demonstrate changes in levels and size? 

  • What instruments can we use to determine height?

 

Georgia Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 2

2.MDR.5: Estimate and measure the lengths of objects and distance to solve problems found in real-life using standard units of measurement, including inches, feet, and yards.

 

2.MDR.5.2 Estimate and measure the length of an object or distance to the nearest whole unit using appropriate units and standard measuring tools.

 

2.MDR.5.3 Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another and express the length difference in terms of a standard-length unit.

Arts Standards

Grade 2

​​ESD2.PR.1 Identify and demonstrate movement elements, skills, and terminology in dance. a. Apply dance terminology to describe and create movement (e.g. levels, pathways, directions, speed, rhythm, energy, qualities, shapes).

 

ESD2.CN.3 Identify connections between dance and other areas of knowledge.

 

South Carolina Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 2

2.MDA.3 Estimate and measure length/distance in customary units (i.e., inch, foot, yard) and metric units (i.e., centimeter, meter). 

 

2.MDA.4 Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, using standard length units.

 

Grade 3

3.MDA.4 Generate data by measuring length to the nearest inch, half-inch and quarter-inch and organize the data in a line plot using a horizontal scale marked off in appropriate units.

Arts Standards

Anchor Standard 1: I can use movement exploration to discover and create artistic ideas and works.

 

Anchor Standard 2: I can choreograph a dance.

 

Anchor Standard 3: I can perform movements using the dance elements.

Anchor Standard 7: I can relate dance to other arts disciplines, content areas, and careers.

 

Key Vocabulary

Content Vocabulary

  • Measurement - The size, amount, degree, or capacity of something; it is typically determined by using an instrument or device marked in standard units

  • Inches - A unit of length in the United States customary systems of measurement; twelve inches make a foot

  • Foot - A unit of length in the United States customary systems of measurement

  • Meter - The base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI)

  • Meter stick - A tool that measures meters
  • Ruler - A tool that measures inches

Arts Vocabulary

  • Movement - The various actions performed by the body to create and express motion, rhythm, and emotion

  • Mirror dance - A type of dance exercise or performance in which two dancers face each other and perform movements that mirror each other's actions, as if one dancer is the reflection of the other in a mirror

  • Shape - The positioning and form of the dancer's body

  • Levels - The use of different heights or vertical spaces through which dancers move and position their bodies (high, middle, low)

  • Choreography - The art of designing and arranging movements to create a structured and cohesive performance

 

Materials

  • Photos of dancers demonstrating different levels
  • Drum or music
  • Meter stick
  • Ruler

 

Instructional Design

Opening/Activating Strategy

Show students several photographs of dancers in various positions that show different heights. Ask students to compare the height of the different positions. Tell students that the height of a dancer’s movement is called a level (high, middle, low).

 

Work Session

    • Lead exploration of taller and shorter shapes and movements with “Move and Freeze”. 
    • Teacher will need a drum or music for accompaniment.  
      • Tell students that they are going to dance “Move and Freeze”. This means that when they hear the drum or music, they move, and when it stops, they freeze in a shape, like a statue. 
      • Remind students to make sure that they have a “space bubble” around them so that they don’t bump or touch anyone. 
      • Tell students that they will dance in “self-space”, which means that they will stay in one spot. 
      • Begin the exercise. When the teacher stops the drum or music, tell students to freeze in a shape at a high level. Then, to stretch their shape taller, and freeze again, then stretch taller, and then freeze again. Do the same with low levels to make a shape shorter. 
    • Reflect by asking students whether they were able to make their high level shapes taller and their low level shapes shorter. How do they know? 
    • Next, tell students that they will be creating a mirror dance with a partner to explore tall and short shapes and movements. 
      • Ask students to find a partner. One will start as the leader and one as the follower. 
      • Students will face each other; as the leader moves, the follower will mirror the leader’s movements.
      • Verbally cue leaders as they demonstrate tall and short movements for their partner to mirror. 
        • Tell leaders to start by making tall movements with high levels; then, to freeze in a tall shape. 
        • Tell leaders to use even taller movements; then, to freeze in a shape. 
        • Tell leaders to use shorter movements with a low level. Then, to freeze in a short shape. 
        • Tell leaders to use even shorter movements and freeze in a shape. 
        • Once students understand the concept, allow them to choreograph their own movements.
      • Allow the followers to participate in the leader role and the leaders to participate in the follower role.
      • Facilitate pair-share reflection.
        • Tell students to respond to the following questions: 
          • What types of movements and levels did you pick when you were the leader? Tall, short?
          • Partners, how did you know that was true (that they were tall or short)?
    • Tell students that “Dancing Mathematicians” wonder why things are true, so they will test their conclusions.
      • Review units of measurement with students: Inches, feet and meters.  
      • Review how to use a measuring device such as a meter stick and/or ruler.
      • Ask for two student volunteers. Volunteer 1 will make a short shape at a low level. Volunteer 2 will make a tall shape at a high level. 
      • The class should state which is taller and which is shorter. Ask students what instrument they could use to determine the difference between the heights and determine if their conclusions were correct.
      • Ask a third volunteer to measure the difference between the heights. Discuss findings as a class.

     

    Grade 3 extension: 

    • Tell students that they will be choreographing a dance using high, middle, and low levels. 
      • They can choose the movements and body shapes they would like to use in each level. 
      • They should have at least eight movements in their choreography and should have movements in each level. 
      • They can repeat levels, movements, and shapes however they would like.
    • After they have choreographed their dance, students should interpret their choreography into data and organize their data into a line plot.
    • Students will perform choreographed dances for the class and share their line plots.

    Closing Reflection

    • Ask students to explain how they used levels to make shapes and movements that were taller and shorter in height.
    • Ask students to explain how they determined which movements were taller and which were shorter. 
    • Ask students to explain how these strategies can help them estimate measurement in other scenarios.

     

    Assessments

    Formative

    Teachers will assess students’ understanding by observing students’ discussion of levels in dance photography, participation in “Move and Freeze”, and their participation in the mirror dance and choreography.

     

    Summative

    CHECKLIST

    • Students can use levels to compare movements that are taller and shorter.
    • Students can use their bodies to demonstrate changes in levels and size.
    • Students can use instruments of measurement, such as a ruler or meter stick, to test their conclusions.

          Grade 3 extension: 

    • Students can choreograph a dance with eight movements that show low, middle, and high levels.
    • Students can interpret choreography as data and organize data into a line plot.

     

    DIFFERENTIATION 

    Accelerated: 

    • Students can compare objects in the room by length (long/short) and create choreography with long and short locomotor movements (any movement that travels through space from one location to another).
    • Students can estimate the height of their movements and check them with a ruler or meter stick.
    • Students can choreograph a dance that uses low, middle, and high levels. 

    Remedial: 

    • For students who struggle with understanding space, this activity can be done outside to allow more space. 
    • Physically adapt this lesson so that students use only upper or lower body movement.

    *This integrated lesson provides differentiated ideas and activities for educators that are aligned to a sampling of standards. Standards referenced at the time of publishing may differ based on each state’s adoption of new standards.

    Ideas contributed by: Jessica Wurst

    Revised and copyright:  May 2024 @ ArtsNOW

     

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