Week 3: Dance and Math

Warm up Activity

In this class we focused on integrating dance and math curriculum areas. We explored this through the elements of body and space and the choreographic form mirroring.

Element of Body-

Shape- lines, curves, angle, different shapes you can make with your body

Parts- head, neck, arms, legs, feet, hands, stomach, back, toes, etc.
locomotor vs non-locomotor movements.

Mirroring – Partners face each other and decide who will be the first leader. The leader will begin to perform slow movements with different body parts while his/her partner follows along. The goal is to have both partners moving at (almost) the same time.

 Activity:

Show a video on how to find a line of symmetry. Students will work with a partner to explore different symmetrical movements and pathways. Teacher will put an imaginary line of symmetry in the room and in two lines the partners will go through the lines of symmetry while mirroring each others movements (one will lead and create the pathway and movement, the other will follow). 

Line of symmetry 

In groups students will create a symmetrical dance phrase. You can prompt students by allowing them to use different genres/styles of dance they might be interested in exploring. Each dance phrase will be 32 beats long. 

Reflection: 
I have used elements of this lesson in my practicum and found it to be very effective. We used the symmetry line activity and mirroring exercises to get used to the form mirroring. After we used mirroring to explore Disco. I found this to be effective with the elements of body and space because students use a variety of large and small shapes and movements with their body, and explore various group formations and pathways for space.