Dance drama (Year 8)

Learning intentions

  • We are learning to use movement to explore emotion.
  • We are learning to use movement to illustrate friendship.

What to look for

  • Pupils participating fully in activities
  • Pupils using effective movements which convey fear, apprehension, etc.
  • Pupils using appropriate and effective movements to represent conflict and friendship
  • Pupils commenting on their own and each other’s work (recorded with a video camera)

Learning activities

Use the idea of waxworks to explore what it feels like to start at a new school. Ask the pupils to begin as waxworks and develop into movement, for example:

  • slow movements, such as lowering their heads;
  • cowering movements to reflect uncertainty; and/or
  • faster movements, such as bright faces to reflect eagerness.

Choose suitable music to play, and have the pupils work in pairs to explore conflict through movement, for example:

  • spiky movements; or
  • bold movements.

Ask the pupils to illustrate friendship through movement, working in pairs and in groups. For example, they could devise a sequence of movements which depict:

  • a conflict (strong, bold movements); or
  • conflict resolution (people shaking hands and moving together).

Focus on achievements the pupils have made in school. Ask them to think of a particular achievement and show, through movement, a celebration of their success. For example, they might choose an achievement in sport:

  • winning a medal for sports’ day;
  • lifting a trophy; and
  • celebrating and twirling round.

They could record each other’s work using a camcorder.