Today's dance and movement sequences are about exploring the campsite.
2. Let's explore!
After an energetic warm-up, pupils use an imaginary compass to explore the woods - following straight, direct pathways linked with quick jump-turns to change direction. Next, partners take turns to lead one another across a stream - jumping from one stepping stone to the next - before stamping in the water and splashing one another. Finally, they get back into their class circle/s to skip sideways round the campfire together with light, happy steps.
Resources
Download the audio for this dance session as an mp3 file.
Guidance on using the dance sessions in this unit with your group (pdf)
Lesson summary
Good morning. Lay down in a space – as if snuggled up inside your sleeping bag. With the music, perform an exaggerated yawn and stretch…wriggle out of your sleeping bag…stand up as you unzip the tent…step outside…yawn and stretch again. Warm-up muscles with energetic star-jumps.
Using a compass. Following a chosen route or pathway, walk or skip forwards with the music then stop, turn to face a different direction, and walk or skip forwards again.
The stream: stepping stones. Partners stand one behind the other, taking turns to lead the way across the stepping stones with neat, small jumps; arms stretched out to the sides to balance.
The stream: reflections, stamping and splashing. Partners sit opposite one another and take turns to mirror one another’s movements, as if watching their reflection in the surface of the stream. Before returning to the campsite, partners stamp through the shallow stream, scooping up the water to splash one another as much as possible.
Campfire sequence. Hold hands and spread out in one big class circle (or two smaller circles). Repeat the sideways skipping patterns – 8 skips round to the left side, followed by 8 skips round to the right side – singing or humming along with the tune of the campfire song.
Goodnight. Get back into the tent…close the zip…climb into the sleeping bag…have a big stretch and yawn…and snuggle up to dream about your next camping adventures.
Music sequence. Compass; Stepping stones; Reflections, stamping and splashing.
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