Content Area: Health and Physical Education

 

Index: 2.5B Grade 8 CPI 6

 

Standard: 2.5 - Motor Skills

 

Strand: B -   Movement Concepts 

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 6 -  The student will describe the influence of history and culture on games, sports, and dance.

 

Grade: 8

 

Sample Activities:

 

·        DANCING OVER TIME - Divide the class into small groups to research dances popular at a particular point in history (e.g., Colonial times, the 1920s, 1950s). Each group selects one dance from the designated time period, learns the dance, and teaches it to the class. Students create period costumes for the performance and describe the historical and cultural significance of the dance.

 

      Variation: Students research dances from different countries and cultures, select one dance, and teach it to the class.

Variation: Students learn games from various time periods, countries, or cultures and teach the game to the class as part of a multi-cultural festival.

Variation: Students teach the game or dance to younger students.

 

·        MOVIN' TO THE MUSIC - Divide the class into small groups. Each group selects a popular line dance (e.g., the Electric Slide, the Continental, any popular club dance). Each group learns the steps and then teaches the dance to the rest of the class. Discuss how movement skills used in dance are similar to those used in sport activities.

Variation: Vary the style/tempo of the music using the sames steps.

Variation: Small groups of students research various dance forms and select one for further study. The group develops a short presentation on the dance form and its use of movement skills. For example, students interested in ballet may study the use of leaps and jumps.

Variation: Small groups of students learn a folk dance, such as the Troika or Turkey in the Straw, and teach the dance to classmates. Incorporate folk dance into a social studies unit on a country or culture.

 

      Variation: Students create an original dance pattern using sports movements. Students might create a dance pattern using basketball moves such as dribbling, shooting, and jump shots. Students select appropriate music and perform their sports dance for classmates. Students rate the dance on creativity and skill performance.