Basic Movements in Dance: Meaning and Components of Basic Movements in Dance Primary 4 (Basic 4) Second Term Week 8 Cultural and Creative Arts

BASIC MOVEMENTS IN DANCE: MEANING AND COMPONENTS OF BASIC MOVEMENTS IN DANCE 

CULTURAL AND CREATIVE ARTS (CCA)

PRIMARY 4 – SECOND TERM – WEEK 8

THEME –  ARTS AND CRAFTS 

PREVIOUS LESSON – Nigerian Musical Instruments: Meaning, Traditional Nigerian Musical Instruments and the Sounds They Produce Primary 4 (Basic 4) Second Term Week 6 Cultural and Creative Arts

TOPIC – BASIC MOVEMENTS IN DANCE 

LEARNING 

1. Introduction

2. Meaning and Components of Basic Movements in Dance

3. Examples of Basic Movements in Dance

4. Importance of Basic Movements in Dance

5. Weekly Assessment: Test Questions and Answers/Assignment

6. Summary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Explain the meaning of basic movements in dance.

2. Mention the components of basic movements in dance.

3. Identify the examples of basic dance movements.

4. Demonstrate simple basic dance movements correctly.

5. State the importance of basic movements in dance.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

Pupils have previously learned about Nigerian Musical Instruments: Meaning, Traditional Nigerian Musical Instruments, and the Sounds They Produce. They know that traditional musical instruments provide the rhythm and beats used during dance performances.

This lesson builds on that knowledge by introducing pupils to the basic movements in dance and the components that make dance performances meaningful and enjoyable.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Pictures or charts showing different dance movements

2. Audio player or drum for dance rhythm

3. Traditional musical instruments (or pictures)

4. Flashcards showing the components of dance

5. Open space or school hall for practical activities

6. Whiteboard and marker

7. Pupils’ Cultural and Creative Arts textbooks and notebooks

METHOD OF TEACHING

Choose a suitable and appropriate methods for the lessons.

Note – Irrespective of choosing methods of teaching, always introduce an activities that will arouse pupil’s interest or lead them to the lessons. 

REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of Work

2. 9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum

3. Course Book

4. All Relevant Material

5. Online Information

CONTENT OF THE LESSON

INTRODUCTION

Whenever people dance, they move different parts of their bodies in various ways to match the rhythm of the music. These simple actions, such as walking, jumping, clapping, swaying, and turning, are called basic dance movements. Learning these movements helps us dance well, keep fit, and express our feelings.

In this lesson, pupils will learn the meaning of basic movements in dance, identify their components, recognise examples of basic dance movements, and practise simple dance steps.

LESSON 1 – MEANING OF BASIC MOVEMENTS IN DANCE

Basic movements in dance are the simple body actions or steps used to create and perform a dance. These movements help dancers express feelings, ideas, and emotions through body movements.

COMPONENTS OF BASIC MOVEMENTS IN DANCE

The main components of basic movements in dance are:

1. Body – The body is the main tool used for dancing. Different parts of the body, such as the head, hands, arms, legs, feet, and waist, move during a dance.

2. Space – Space refers to the area where a dancer moves. A dancer may move forward, backward, sideways, up, down, or around the performance area.

3. Time – Time is the speed or rhythm of a dance movement. A dancer may move slowly, quickly, or at a moderate pace, following the beat of the music.

4. Energy (Force) – Energy is the amount of strength used while dancing. Movements may be gentle, light, strong, or powerful.

5. Relationship – Relationship refers to how a dancer moves with other dancers, objects, or the audience during a performance.

LESSON 2 – EXAMPLES OF BASIC DANCE MOVEMENTS

1. Walking – Moving from one place to another with regular steps while following the rhythm of the music.

2. Running – Moving faster than walking to add speed and excitement to a dance.

3. Jumping – Pushing the body off the ground with both feet and landing safely.

4. Hopping – Jumping repeatedly on one foot while keeping balance.

5. Skipping – Moving forward with a light step and hop, usually to the beat of the music.

6. Bending – Lowering or folding parts of the body, such as the knees, waist, or arms, during a dance.

7. Stretching – Extending the arms, legs, or body to increase flexibility and create graceful movements.

8. Turning (Twisting) – Rotating the body around in a circle or twisting the waist while dancing.

9. Clapping – Bringing the hands together to produce rhythm and accompany dance movements.

10. Swaying – Moving the body gently from side to side in time with the music.

IMPORTANCE OF BASIC MOVEMENTS IN DANCE

Basic movements in dance help to:

1. Develop body coordination.

2. Improve balance and flexibility.

3. Promote physical fitness.

4. Build confidence.

5. Express feelings and emotions.

6. Encourage teamwork and cooperation.

7. Prepare learners for more advanced dance skills.

LESSON 3 – WEEKLY ASSESSMENT: TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS/ASSIGNMENT 

A. Multiple Choice Questions

1. Basic movements in dance are ________.

A. simple body actions used in dancing

B. musical instruments

C. drawing tools

D. types of games

2. Which of the following is a component of basic movements in dance?

A. Colour

B. Space

C. Pencil

D. Paper

3. Which of the following is a basic dance movement?

A. Reading

B. Jumping

C. Sleeping

D. Writing

4. Which component of dance refers to the speed or rhythm of movement?

A. Space

B. Body

C. Time

D. Relationship

5. Which of the following is an importance of basic movements in dance?

A. Damages the body

B. Causes pollution

C. Wastes time

D. Improves body coordination

B. Fill in the Gaps

Complete the sentences using the words in the box: body, clapping, space, swaying, time

6. The ________ is the main tool used for dancing.

7. ________ refers to the speed or rhythm of dance movements.

8. Bringing the hands together to produce rhythm is called ________.

9. ________ is the area where a dancer performs.

10. Moving the body gently from side to side is called ________.

C. True or False

11. Walking is a basic dance movement. ________

12. Energy is one of the components of basic movements in dance. ________

13. Skipping is not a dance movement. ________

14. Dance helps to reduce body coordination. ________

15. Turning means rotating or twisting the body while dancing. ________

D. Match Column A with Column B.

Column A – Column B

16. Walking – A. Rotating the body

17. Jumping – B. Gentle movement from side to side

18. Turning – C. Moving from one place to another

19. Swaying – D. Pushing the body off the ground

20. Clapping – E. Bringing the hands together

ANSWER KEYS

1. A – Simple body actions used in dancing

2. B – Space

3. B – Jumping

4. C – Time

5. D – Improves body coordination

6. body

7. time

8. clapping

9. space

10. swaying

11. True

12. True

13. False

14. False

15. True

16. C – Moving from one place to another

17. D – Pushing the body off the ground

18. A – Rotating the body

19. B – Gentle movement from side to side

20. E – Bringing the hands together

SUMMARY

In this lesson, pupils learned that basic movements in dance are simple body actions or steps used to create and perform dances. These movements help dancers express ideas, feelings, and emotions through body movement.

Pupils identified the components of basic movements in dance, namely body, space, time, energy, and relationship.

Furthermore, pupils learned examples of basic dance movements such as walking, running, jumping, hopping, skipping, bending, stretching, turning (twisting), clapping, and swaying.

Finally, pupils understood that basic movements in dance help to improve body coordination, balance, flexibility, physical fitness, confidence, teamwork, and prepare dancers for more advanced dance skills.

PRESENTATION

To deliver the lesson, the teacher adopts the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction – The teacher plays a simple piece of music or beats a drum and asks pupils to move their bodies freely to the rhythm. The teacher then asks what movements they made while dancing.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils dance freely and mention movements such as walking, jumping, clapping, and swaying.

Step 2: Meaning of Basic Movements in Dance – The teacher explains that basic movements in dance are simple body actions or steps used to create and perform a dance.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils explain the meaning of basic movements in dance in their own words.

Step 3: Components of Basic Movements in Dance – The teacher explains the components of basic movements in dance:

• Body

• Space

• Time

• Energy

• Relationship

The teacher demonstrates each component using simple dance activities.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils identify and demonstrate each component through guided movements.

Step 4: Examples of Basic Dance Movements – The teacher demonstrates basic dance movements such as walking, running, jumping, hopping, skipping, bending, stretching, turning (twisting), clapping, and swaying.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils imitate and practise each movement correctly.

Step 5: Practical Demonstration – The teacher leads pupils in a simple dance routine that combines different basic movements while music is played.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils perform the dance routine individually or in pairs.

Step 6: Group Activity – The teacher divides the class into four groups and assigns the following activities:

• Group 1: Explain the meaning of basic movements in dance.

• Group 2: Mention the components of basic movements in dance.

• Group 3: Demonstrate five basic dance movements.

• Group 4: State the importance of basic movements in dance.

Each group presents its work to the class.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils discuss the assigned tasks, demonstrate the movements, and present their findings.

Step 7: Lesson Summary – The teacher reviews the meaning, components, examples, and importance of basic movements in dance.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer oral questions and summarise the lesson.

Step 8: Evaluation – The teacher asks oral and written questions to assess pupils’ understanding of the lesson.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer the evaluation questions and participate actively in the lesson.

CONCLUSION

To conclude the lesson for the week, the teacher revises the entire lesson and links it to the following week’s lesson.

NEXT LESSON

Colour in Our Environment: Meaning, Types, Sources and Uses of Colours, Colour Wheel and Painting Primary 4 (Basic 4) Second Term Week 9 Cultural and Creative Arts

LESSON EVALUATION 

Teacher asks pupils,

1. Explain the meaning of basic movements in dance.

2. Mention at least five components of basic movements in dance.

3. Identify at least five examples of basic dance movements.

4. Demonstrate simple basic dance movements correctly.

5. State at least five importance of basic movements in dance.