Welcome to RDT’s series of posts for teachers who want to include movement/dance in their classrooms. Feel free to take a look at the previous posts here, under Lesson of the Month section. Our goal is to inspire teachers to use simple dance moves with their students to help them get to know each other as the school year starts. 

We hope to encourage creativity and lead teachers to take the lesson plans to many levels. We also want to encourage you to share your results with us! Please post comments, videos, new ideas based on the original plan, etc. You can post at the hashtag #RDTlessonplanofthemonth.

Also, please feel free to provide feedback and make suggestions below in the forum. Join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter if you would like to post pictures or videos of your work with students.

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Junior High Modern Class

By Elle Johansen

Feet:

Start in Parallel, then do in first position.
Half, push, half, down (right then left)
Quick plie on ball of foot with arms reaching forward (R/L)
Double bounce to releve 2 times 
Slow, slow, quick, quick, quick, quick (feet prances)
Slow, slow, quick, quick, quick, quick (small jumps facing front)
Slow, slow, quick, quick, quick, quick (small jumps with half and full turns)
Music: Keeping your head up (Jonas Blue Remix) by Birdy

Spirals:

Start in parallel
Arm swish in plie (R/L)
Arm swish without plie (R/L)
Speed skater with upper spiral (R/L)
Use plie from last speed skater to bring arms up through the side
Peel arm while stepping to side 2 times
Drop to the floor and walk out into plank
Cross ankles and make way to seat to sit with long legs forward
Swing arms overhead then to side while the same knee pulls to side
Take swing to swivel back to plank
Walk hands back to feet and then roll up slowly
Dancers will now be facing a new direction to start the other side
Music: Faith (feat Mr.Probz) by Galantis

Triplets:

Can be done in parallel or first
Simple Down, up, up across the floor
Challenge dancers by having them do it backwards or sideways
If challenging them to travel with arms  sideways remind them to keep hips forward as they may want to switch from side to side
Music: I’ll Be by Edwin McCain

Leg Swings:

Moving through first
2 Battements to the front
1 battement to the side that takes them into plie in second position
Flip to a balance in parallel with arm reaching towards opposite back foot (Horton Stag)
Rise to a turned out position with back leg in attitude
Swing leg front, back, front, then chasse with same leg to switch to the other side
Music: Crab Rave by Noisestrom

Final Phrase:

Quick plie on ball of foot with arms reaching forward (R/L)
Use plie from last speed skater to bring arms up through the side
Peel arm while stepping to side 2 times
Simple Down, up, up across the floor 2 times
Flip to a balance in parallel with arm reaching towards opposite back foot (Horton Stag)
Rise to a turned out position with back leg in attitude
Bring leg forward to chasse into double attitude leap
Music: What do you love? By Seeb