Expressive Movement Fun

Lesson Overview

Subject: Physical Education
Year Group: Year 2
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes
Class Size: 23 students

Curriculum Alignment

This lesson addresses the UK National Curriculum for Physical Education at Key Stage 1, focusing on developing basic movements including dance, and fostering creativity, expression, and confidence in movement.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Perform simple dance moves with control and coordination.
2. Understand the basic concept of rhythm in dance.
3. Showcase an expression of creativity through movement.

Resources

• Open space such as a gymnasium or school hall.
• Portable speaker and suitable music playlist (with varying tempos).
• Visual cue cards showing dance moves.
• Stopwatch or timekeeping device.
• Optional: Props like scarves or ribbons to assist in movements.

Lesson Structure

Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Greeting and Warm-Up:

   • Gather students in a circle. Briefly discuss the importance of movement and dance in physical education.
   • Warm-up with dynamic stretches (e.g., arm circles, knee raises, and gentle jumping jacks).
   • Introduce the theme of the lesson: Expressive Movement Fun.

2. Set Expectations:

   • Explain safety boundaries within the dance area to prevent collisions.
   • Emphasize listening to music cues and watching the teacher's actions.

Main Activities (20 minutes)

Activity 1: Learn the Moves (10 minutes)

• Instruction:

  • Demonstrate the following simple dance moves one by one, ensuring you face the students for mirror-imaging.
    • Happy Hop: Hop side to side, clapping in between.
    • Star Pose: Stretch arms and legs wide, then come back to a crouch.
    • Twist and Turn: Twist hips side to side while spinning in a circle.
    • High Wave: Step forwards and wave your hands from low to high.
  • Use visual cue cards to reinforce each move. Adapt difficulty as needed.

• Practice:

  • Play an upbeat track. Guide students through each move, maintaining a regular rhythm tailored to the song.
  • Offer constructive feedback to encourage confidence.

Activity 2: Creative Dance Circle (10 minutes)

• Circle Time:

  • Form a large circle. Each student steps forward into the centre one at a time, improvising a simple dance move of their own creation.
  • Encourage the class to repeat the student's move as a group, promoting teamwork and breaking shyness.

• Freeze Dance:

  • Play music and let students dance freely around the room. When the music stops, students must freeze in a pose inspired by one of the dance moves they’ve learned.
  • Reinforce focus on rhythm by starting and stopping music at different intervals.

Cool Down and Conclusion (5 minutes)

1. Cool Down:

   • Lead students in slow stretches, focusing on relaxing muscles and steady breathing.
   • Select a calming track as background music for the stretches.

2. Reflections and Feedback:

   • Gather students for a quick chat. Invite them to share their favourite dance moves or moments from the session.
   • Encourage students to practice their moves at home or demonstrate to family, reinforcing confidence and creativity outside the classroom.

3. Conclusion:

   • Thank the students for their energy and participation. Highlight the benefits of dance, such as how it makes the body and mind feel.

This dynamic lesson plan encourages Year 2 students to explore expressive movement while meeting key aspects of the UK curriculum for Physical Education. Through play, creativity, and rhythmic exploration, students gain skills in coordination, confidence, and group participation.