Diane Louise Jordan has three dance sessions exploring shapes in the natural and man-made world.
1. Symmetry in the man-made world. audio
In the first session children identify symmetrical objects and recreate them in groups.
2. Asymmetry in the natural world. audio
The children identify asymmetrical shapes in the natural world and recreating them in groups.
3. Pattern in an artist's world. audio
The final unit of the session explores the shapes used by two real-life artists in their work.
Pattern world
This unit uses the poem 鈥楲eisure鈥 by William Henry Davies to introduce the children to the value of looking closely at the world around them. Through the course of the unit the children explore the visual contrasts between the man-made and the natural world focussing particularly on symmetry, asymmetry, straight and curved lines. They are also introduced to the work of two artists who use pattern and environment with very contrasting outcomes.
The children work from direct observation and from the imagination to create physical expressions for their ideas which are built from individual and pair work to more collaborative group or even class work by the end of the unit.
Learning objectives
Compose
- Use compositional strategies in pair work - compliment / contrast.
- Use different arrangements of dancers to create patterns - individual, pair, group (whole class).
Perform
- Develop increasing accuracy and control in the use of dynamics - jerky and flowing.
- Develop increasing accuracy and control in the use of space - shape, level, pathway.
- Use contact in a group to express the dance idea.
Appreciate
- Describe and evaluate specific aspects of their own or others鈥 work.
Fitness and Health
- Understand how dance can improve general body skills - balance and control.
Resources
Guidance on using the dance sessions in this unit with your group (pdf)
Related units of KS1 Dance: Time to Move
Springs, magnets and monsters! collection
Diane Louise Jordan is finding out about forces, with dances inspired by springs, magnets and clockwork monsters.
The water cycle. collection
Diane Louise Jordan has two dance sessions exploring the water cycle.
Journey through space. collection
Three dance sessions creating exciting dance sequences exploring space and space travel.
