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Key
Stage 1
Space
Aviva Epstein
Dance
Key Stage 1
Space
Lesson Plan for Key Stage 1 Dance
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Objectives:
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Explore the theme of Space and Space Travel through movement
Respond to given movement instructions
Explore level, direction, speed and dynamics in space
Create own shapes and moves in response to stimuli
Work collaboratively together with partners.
Experience working in groups
Observe and talk about each other’s dance work, being good critical friends
Learn to rehearse, refine and perform dance
The 4 Strands of the National curriculum:
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Acquiring and Developing Skills
Selecting and Applying Skills, Tactics and Compositional Ideas
Knowledge and Understanding of Fitness and Health
Evaluating and Improving Performance
Unit Contents:
Week 1: Rockets
Week 2: The Moon
Week 3: Planets
Week 4: Aliens?
Week 5: Finalise the Dance
Week 6: Rehearse and Perform
Tracks Used
 “Then...I Open the Door”
 “Inner Space”
 “Drawing Nearer”
 “Robots on the Run”
 “A New Dawn”
 “Sun”
 “Anywhere but Here”
 “Turning”
© 2014 Dance Notes
Madmusik, 62 Holcombe Vale, Bathampton. BA2 6UX; brian@madmusik.co.uk; +44 (0)1225 313082; Fax: 0871 528 3291
Space
Week 1: Rockets
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Starter
Discuss Space and the idea of travelling around our solar system. What is involved
in space travel? What would you want to see?
Warm up
 “Then...I Open the Door”
You are an astronaut; put on your space suit, making sure every part is correctly
fastened. Start with the toes, rotating and tensing each section of your body, all
the way up to putting on your helmet.
Once you are secure in your space suit, find a space and we will count down to blast
off.
When you blast off, think of 3 different ways of jumping e.g.
 star jump
 bunny hop
 from crouching
 two feet together
 from foot to foot
 hop scotch
 jump to turn or change levels
 etc.
Teacher, pick a few of the most inventive ones for everyone to try. (Jumps do not
always have to go upwards!)
Main
A
 “Inner Space”
You have now left the earth’s atmosphere and are travelling into space. Move
around the room as if you are a rocket – listen to the music and try to move to it.
Think about spatial awareness, speed and direction.
Teacher, shout “all change” at intervals: children change the direction they are
travelling, taking care not to bump into each other.
B
Divide the class into two groups. One group are to be objects in space (rocks or
meteors, satellites, space debris, black holes). The other group, the rockets, need
to avoid the space objects while continuing on their journey.
Both groups need to think about how they move: levels, speed, direction and shape.
C
Swap the groups over and repeat.
© 2014 Dance Notes
Madmusik, 62 Holcombe Vale, Bathampton. BA2 6UX; brian@madmusik.co.uk; +44 (0)1225 313082; Fax: 0871 528 3291
Space
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Cool Down
 “Drawing Nearer”
Imagine how astronauts feel in the vastness of space: it is cold and lonely up here.
Curl up into a tiny ball, starting from the head, all the way to your toes, and
reverse. Repeat as desired.
Key Vocabulary:
level, speed, shape, direction, travelling, spatial
© 2014 Dance Notes
Madmusik, 62 Holcombe Vale, Bathampton. BA2 6UX; brian@madmusik.co.uk; +44 (0)1225 313082; Fax: 0871 528 3291
Space
Week 2: The Moon
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Starter
Recap last week’s lesson. What do the children remember?
Warm up
 “Robots on the Run”
A lot of technology is used in helping man land on the moon, including robots. Robots
move in a jerky way, often isolating different parts of their ‘body’.
Encourage the children to isolate parts of their bodies:
 Arms from the elbows – from down at sides and extending arms to moving
them at right angles, one at a time and both together
 Wrists – extend arms with hands flat and turn them over and under
 Heads – left, middle, right (use visuals in the room for focus: door, teacher,
window)
 Legs – walk around the room with legs out straight in front without bending
the knees, then do it bending legs at right angles.
Put all of the moves together or in a combination of teacher choice.
Can the children make their moves really sharp and crisp? Do they have any other
suggestions?
Main
 “Inner Space”
Recap last week’s lesson
B
You are now on the surface of the moon; explore the moon, thinking about its lack
of gravity - so all your movements are big and slow. Think about moving around the
whole room. Can you think of any interesting ways of moving across the moon?
C
Show the moon-walks in groups. The children reflect on each other’s movements,
can they think of ways to improve them?
D
Perform again in pairs, improving on your movements.
A
Cool Down
 “A New Dawn”
With your partner, gently stretch each other while sitting on the floor. Use
straight legs, legs in a diamond shape, bent knees and any others that the children
can think of
Key Vocabulary:
Pairs, explore, big and slow, reflect, isolating,
© 2014 Dance Notes
Madmusik, 62 Holcombe Vale, Bathampton. BA2 6UX; brian@madmusik.co.uk; +44 (0)1225 313082; Fax: 0871 528 3291
Space
Week 3: Planets
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Starter
Discuss the planets in our solar system; how are they different or the same?
Warm up
 “Robots on the Run”
Choose 4 of the best isolated robot movements from last week. Teacher, ask the
children to move around the room, changing from fast-forward, slow-motion and
rewind. Call out the names of the different movements at intervals.
Main
A
 “Inner Space”
 “Sun”
Recap the dances from the previous weeks.
B
In your pairs, decide on a planet you would like to visit in our solar system. How can
you demonstrate this planet using movement? What type of movements would you
use?
big, cold, slow, fast, small, hot, spinning, fizzing, stillness, small, hot, seas,
gases, craters, moons, stillness.
C
Demonstrate to the class in groups; can they guess the planet? Children and
teacher to give feedback for the ways in which the children showed this.
Cool Down
 “Anywhere but Here”
Perform the Planet dance in slow motion, slowing it down to a stop.
Key Vocabulary:
demonstrate, spinning, fast, feedback, stillness
© 2014 Dance Notes
Madmusik, 62 Holcombe Vale, Bathampton. BA2 6UX; brian@madmusik.co.uk; +44 (0)1225 313082; Fax: 0871 528 3291
Space
Week 4: Aliens?
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Starter
Think about the vastness of space and the potential for other life forms to exist
outside of our solar system.
Warm up
 “Robots on the Run”
As last week, can you think of any other robotic movements?
Main
A
 “Inner Space”
 “Sun”
Recap the dance so far.
B
In your pairs, think about other potential life-forms out there: how does your alien
move? Can you mirror each other’s alien movements?
C
Each pair team up with another to show your alien movements. Choose 4 of your
favourites to perform to the class.
D
Class to give feedback to each other. Repeat and improve.
Cool Down
 “A New Dawn”
Lie still and think about your body: is your heart beating fast? Individually, tense
and relax all of your muscles from your toes to your face.
Key Vocabulary:
mirror, perform, repeat
© 2014 Dance Notes
Madmusik, 62 Holcombe Vale, Bathampton. BA2 6UX; brian@madmusik.co.uk; +44 (0)1225 313082; Fax: 0871 528 3291
Space
Week 5: Finalise Dance
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Starter
Discuss the work so far. What have you enjoyed the most?
Warm up
 “Turning”
Imagine flying as a rocket or with futuristic propulsion, wings, jets, lasers. Teacher,
give verbal commands to change direction, speed and freeze at will.
Main
A

 “Inner Space”
Recap the solo
B
 “Robots on the Run”
Recap the duet
C
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 “Sun”
Recap the Aliens
D
Decide on an ending for your dance in your 4’s, 8’s or as a whole class. You could
include a big finale with the whole class being the Sun that everything revolves
around.
Cool Down
 “A New Dawn”
Lie still and think about your body: is your heart beating fast? Individually, tense
and relax all of your muscles from your toes to your face.
Key Vocabulary:
finale, solo, duet, revolve
© 2014 Dance Notes
Madmusik, 62 Holcombe Vale, Bathampton. BA2 6UX; brian@madmusik.co.uk; +44 (0)1225 313082; Fax: 0871 528 3291
Space
Week 6: Rehearse and Perform
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Starter
Recap the Dance.
Warm up
 “Turning”
As last week
Main
A
 “Inner Space”
 “Robots on the Run”
 “Sun”
Rehearse the dance
B
Evaluate and improve
C
Perform
Cool Down
 “A New Dawn”
Lie still and think about your body is your heart beating fast? Individually tense and
relax all of your muscles from your toes to your face.
Give your selves a great big clap – you deserve it!
Key Vocabulary:
Rehearse, evaluate, perform
© 2014 Dance Notes
Madmusik, 62 Holcombe Vale, Bathampton. BA2 6UX; brian@madmusik.co.uk; +44 (0)1225 313082; Fax: 0871 528 3291