This Unit of Study is reformatted from the Colorado Department of Education’s Sample Curriculum Project.

Content Area: Grade Dance: Grade 06 Unit of Study Steps Into Stories Pacing Minimum 3 weeks / 15 contact hours Focusing Lens Transformation Unit Strands Performance Technique; Create Compositions; Cultural Context; Respond Critically Concepts Abstract, Order/Form, Investigate/Discovery, Style, Body Awareness Grade Level Expectations Colorado Academic Dance Standards Standard 1 – Movement, Technique, and Performance DA.6.1.1: Demonstrate movement originating from a strong center DA.6.1.2: Perform basic movement phrases containing choreographic intent DA.6.1.3: Demonstrate skills in foundational dance forms (, modern, tap, jazz) DA.6.1.4: Perform a basic dance warm-up DA.6.1.5: Make appropriate nutritional choices for dance performance Standard 2 – Create, Compose, and Choreograph DA.6.2.1: Articulate creative choices required to develop choreographic intent DA.6.2.2: Demonstrate basic composition skills DA.6.2.3: Movement phrases are developed based on both existing knowledge and new discoveries Standard 3 – Historical and Cultural Context DA.6.3.1: Culture and geography are reflected in the traditional dance heritage of a people Standard 4 – Reflect, Connect, and Respond DA.6.4.1: Critical analysis of dance works requires specific criteria and documentation

Inquiry Questions (Engaging – Debatable) ● How does understanding a culture make learning a dance more meaningful? ● How does a technical form of dance influence other dance forms/styles? ● Is ballet a dance form anyone can perform? Why or why not? Generalizations Guiding Questions My students will UNDERSTAND that … Factual Conceptual contemporary dance-making represents an What ballet terms to describe the How is contemporary dance like abstraction of foundational order and form. positions and transitions in your contemporary painting? dance? investigation and discovery of movement possibilities What is one way to abstract an What makes a dance "new?" Is it more leads to stylistic choice-making in dance. arabesque? interesting and satisfying to manipulate your own phrase or someone else’s? Why? executing technical dance movements relies upon What impact does center or core have Is it easier to hear the term and execute mental focus and body line. on your ability to dance and execute a movement, or to see the movement steps? Why is ballet considered by and think of the term? Why or why not? many the “foundation” of dance? Critical Content Key Skills My students will KNOW … My students will be able to (DO) … ● to demonstrate and articulate proper form. ● demonstrate proper body alignment (parallel and turned out ● how to vary traditional steps in order to make choreographic positions) in a variety of foundational dance forms. choices. ● select movements that serve the intent through improvisation, ● how warming up can properly affect technique. experimentation and exploration. ● demonstrate that dance is a tool to convey concepts ideas, feelings, and themes.

Evidence Outcomes DA.6.1.1.d: Demonstrate proper body alignment (parallel and turned out positions) in a variety of foundational dance forms DA.6.2.1.b: Select movements that serve the intent through improvisation, experimentation, and exploration DA.6.3.1.b: Describe dance forms that developed along with musical forms Critical Language Includes the Academic and Technical vocabulary, semantics, and discourse which are particular to and necessary for accessing a given discipline. Academic: Technical: ● Center ● Center ● Muscular Engagement ● Core ● Abdominals ● Positions of the Feet and Arms ● Alignment ● Tempo ● Flexibility ● Flow ● Nutrition ● Rhythm ● Placement ● Accent ● Motif ● Variation ● Dynamic ● AB ● Abstract ● ABA ● Critique ● Plie ● Port de Bras ● Tendu ● Degage ● Frappe ● ● Fondu ● Adagio ● Allegro ● Arabesque ● Attitude ● Changement ● Glissade ● Jete ● Mime ● Developpe ● Rond de Jambe ● Waltz ● Polonaise ● Facings ● Releve ● Passe ● Pique ● Supporting Leg ● Ball Change ● Pas de Chat ● Pas de Cheval ● Pas de Basque ● ● Pas de Trois, etc. A student in Dance can demonstrate the ability to apply and comprehend critical language through the following statement: After a lot of experimentation, my dance combines ballet foot positions with more angular arms.