Movement as Story
Contributing Educator: Rebecca Stephenson
This unit includes eight core topics that form the foundation of an Introduction to Movement as Story course. Each topic includes warm up activities, guided explorations in movement and creative collaborations for small group work, as well as discussion/reflection questions. The overarching focus is on engaging students in new movement ideas that will deepen their understanding of the use of the body in creating and portraying meaningful storytelling. This unit can also work well with the addition of your ideas and in a different order. Printable resources are included with each topic, enhancing and guiding students through various activities and culminating reflection processes.
This Introduction to Movement as Story unit emphasizes group and individual exploration of movement concepts through guided physical activities. Each section contains reflection/discussion prompts that are designed to help integrate these core concepts. This framework focuses on active and engaged learning experiences. With each lesson, there are several warm up and several main activities- depending on the length of your class it may take two lessons to get through all of the material! The core topics include Dance Element vocabulary, choreographic vocabulary, introduction to musical theater styles and creative process in movement, ending with a culminating choreography project. The explorations allow for students of various backgrounds to feel comfortable and confident with movement – from the total beginner to the advanced dancer, all students will find fun new ways to stretch and challenge themselves through Movement as Story.
This unit is aligned with the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) for dance to ensure that the content meets (or exceeds) expectations for a high school-level course. The activities and the reflection/discussion questions lend themselves well to social and emotional learning. This occurs through group work, reflection on self and other and responsible decision-making. For more information about social and emotional attributes you can check out the CASEL framework. Movement requires a heightened awareness of body and relationship to others, so it is a great way to have fun and dive into these important skills.
Lesson Plans Included: 8
Materials: Printable Resources and Activities are included to help guide your work and support student learning.
Grade Levels: Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan Topics
- Intro to Movement for Actors – Body Awareness and Expression [DA:Cr1.1.I ]
- Space and Relationship – Distance and Focus [DA:Pr4.1.8, DA:Cr1.1.I.b]
- Creating Character through Movement – Physical Choices Build Identity [DA:Cr1.1.I]
- Dance Element: Time – Breath, Rhythm, and Phrasing [DA:Cr1.1.7]
- Choreographic Vocabulary – Shapes, Levels, and Patterns [DA:Cr1.1.II]
- Partner and Ensemble – Trust, Connection, and Collaboration [DA:Pr4.1.II.a, DA:Cr2.1.8]
- Intro to Musical Theater – Storytelling Through Song and Dance [DA :Cr1.1.II]
- Dance Composition Project – Design, Rehearse, and Perform [DA: DA:Cr2.1.I]
