Kindergarten Dance and Movement Curriculum

Standard A:  A student should be able to create and perform in the arts.

A student who meets the content standard should:

  1. Participate in dance, drama, music, visual arts, and creative writing;
  2. Refine artistic skills and develop self-discipline through rehearsal, participation, and revision;
  3. Appropriately use new and traditional materials, tools, techniques, and processes in the arts;
  4. Demonstrate the creativity and imagination necessary for innovative thinking and problem solving.
  5. Collaborate with others to create and perform works of art’
  6. Integrate two or more art forms to create a work of art; and
  7. Investigate careers in art production.

 

ACTIVITIES

·        Demonstrate body awareness by naming and using different body parts in movement.

·        Demonstrate the partner skills of copying, leading, following, and mirroring.

·        Participate in simple singing games and dances.

·        Practice non-locomotor /axial movements, e.g. bend, twist, stretch, swing.

·        Practice eight basic locomotor movements, e.g. walk, run, hop, jump, leap, gallop, slide, and skip, while traveling backwards or forwards.

·        Create shapes at low, middle, and high areas.

·        Practice defining and maintaining personal space.

·        Move to a musical beat and respond to changes in tempo; follow patted bilateral directions, e.g. head, head, shoulders, shoulders.

·        Observe a dancer at work or in a performance.

·        Learn the difference between movement and stillness.

·        Learn how to “freeze” or stop with control.

 

ASSESSMENT:

·        Student performance

·        Rubric/checklists

·        Observational, anecdotal records

·        Video portfolio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard B: A student should be able to understand the historical and contemporary role of the arts in Alaska, the nation, and the world.

A student who meets the content standard should:

  1. Recognize Alaska Native cultures and their arts;
  2. Recognize United States and world cultures and their arts;
  3. Recognize the role of tradition and ritual in the arts;
  4. Investigate the relationships among the arts and the individual, the society, and the environment;
  5. Recognize universal themes in the arts such as love, war, childhood, and community;
  6. Recognize specific works of art created by artists from diverse backgrounds;
  7. Explore similarities and differences in the arts of world cultures;
  8. Respect differences in personal and cultural perspectives; and
  9. Investigate careers relating to arts history and culture.

 

ACTIVITIES

·         Learn very simple folk dance patterns and singing games.

·        Observe dances from cultures that are represented in the local community.

 

ASSESSMENT:

·        Student performance

·        Rubric/checklists

·        Observational, anecdotal records

·        Video portfolio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard C: A Student should be able to critique the student’s art and the art of others.

A student who meets the content standard should:

  1. Know the criteria used to evaluate the arts; these may include craftsmanship, function, organization, originality, technique, and theme.
  2. Examine historical and contemporary works of art, the works of peers, and the student’s own works as follows:
    1. Identify the piece;
    2. Describe the use of basic elements;
    3. Analyze the use of basic principles;
    4. Interpret meaning and artist’s intent;
    5. Express and defend an informed opinion;
  3. Accept and offer constructive criticism;
  4. Recognize and consider an individual’s artistic expression;
  5. Exhibit appropriate audience skills; and
  6. Investigate careers relating to arts criticism.

 

ACTIVITIES

·         Explore and discover multiple solutions to a given movement problem.

·         Observe a dance performance.

·         Demonstrate appropriate audience skills.

 

 

ASSESSMENT:

·        Student performance

·        Observation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard D: A student should be able to recognize beauty and meaning through the arts in the student’s life.

A student who meets the content standard should:

  1. Make statements about the significance of the arts and beauty in the student’s life;
  2. Discuss what makes an object or performance a work of art;
  3. Recognize that people tend to devalue what they do not understand;
  4. Listen to another individual’s beliefs about a work of art and consider the individual’s reason for holding those beliefs;
  5. Consider other culture’s beliefs about works of art;
  6. Recognize that people connect many aspects of life through the arts;
  7. Make artistic choices in everyday living; and
  8. Investigate careers related to the search for beauty and meaning, which is aesthetics.

 

ACTIVITIES

·         Observe and discuss how dance is different from other forms of human movement, such as sports, gestures, etc.

·         Listen quietly while others share their experiences.

 

ASSESSMENT

·        Student performance

·         Teacher Observation