Movement and Expression

Learning Objectives

• Students will explore the elements of drama focusing on movement and dance.
• Students will learn to use body language and simple dance movements to express emotions and storytelling.
• Students will develop collaboration by working in pairs and small groups.
• Students will engage with the drama and dance content in a fun, inclusive, and creative way, promoting confidence and enjoyment in performance.

Curriculum Links

• Drama Key Stage 2 / Level 2 Strand: Drama Contribution to Making Meaning; Understanding the Elements of Drama Students will explore structure and narrative through physical expression and movement.
• The New Zealand Curriculum / Learning Areas: The Arts - Drama and Dance Focus on expressing and communicating ideas and feelings through drama and dance (Levels 2-3).
• Key Competencies: Using language, symbols and texts, Managing self, Relating to others, Participating and contributing—developed through cooperative activities and expressive tasks.

Duration

60 minutes

Resources

• Open classroom space, free of obstacles.
• Portable music player with a variety of music (classical, upbeat pop, slow, fast rhythms).
• Scarves or ribbons (optional, for movement accessories).
• Whiteboard and markers for instructions and reflections.
• Camera or tablet (optional) for recording performances.
• Timer or stopwatch.

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Lesson Structure

1. Warm-up and Introduction (10 minutes)

Objective: Prepare the body and mind for movement, energise students, and introduce the idea of dance as storytelling.

• Begin with simple stretching and loosening exercises (head rolls, shoulder shrugs, wrist circles, gentle lunges).
• Play a “Movement Mirror” game: in pairs, one student leads slow physical movements, the other copies like a mirror. Swap roles after 1-2 minutes.
• Introduce the idea that dance can tell a story or show feelings without words.

2. Exploring Dance Elements through Drama (15 minutes)

Objective: Use basic dance movements to express emotions and narratives.

• Teacher demonstrates simple dance movements linked to basic emotions (happy—bouncing, sad—slow flowing, angry—sharp movements).
• Students experiment moving their bodies reflecting these emotions individually.
• In pairs, students create a short movement sequence (3-4 movements) expressing one emotion and perform to their partner.
• Teacher plays various types of music; students explore moving to different rhythms and speeds.

3. Group Creative Activity: Story Dance (20 minutes)

Objective: Collaboratively use dance and drama elements to tell a simple story.

• Divide the class into small groups of 4-5.
• Each group chooses a simple story or theme (e.g., a day at the beach, a forest adventure, a birthday party).
• Groups plan a 1-minute dance that includes movement showing characters, emotions, or key story moments.
• Encourage use of levels (high, low), space (big, small movements), and group formations.
• Groups rehearse with music and optional scarves or ribbons.

4. Sharing and Reflection (10 minutes)

Objective: Present group work and reflect on learning and feelings.

• Each group performs their story dance to the class.
• After each performance, quick feedback:
• What story or emotion did you see?
• How did the movements show feeling or narrative?
• Conclude with a collective reflection on how movement and dance can help us express and communicate without words.

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Assessment

• Formative Assessment: Observing students’ participation in warm-up, the ability to mimic and create movements, collaboration in pairs and groups, and how effectively they communicate emotions or stories through movement.
• Peer Feedback: Encouraging respectful, specific positive feedback on each other’s performances (simple comments on what they liked or what movement showed).
• Teacher Feedback: Notes on student engagement, creativity, and understanding of movement and expression in drama and dance.
• Optional: Record performances to review student progress over time or for self-assessment.

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This lesson embraces the New Zealand Curriculum focus on learning through the arts by combining drama with dance, encouraging physical and emotional expression, and developing key competencies such as participation, communication, and self-management. It supports Year 5 students in a fun, inclusive environment that fosters creativity and confidence.