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Dance to Your Health

Students will learn about the benefits of dance to promote health and then use sidewalk chalk to illustrate a dancer.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    What do boxer Evander Holyfield, football player Steve Mclendon, and body builder/actor/politician Arnold Schwarzenegger have in common? They all studied ballet to help them with endurance, stamina, strength, and movement. Exercise is very important for overall physical and mental health, and dancing is a wonderful form of exercise. Have students name some of their favorite dance styles. Ask them how they feel after they dance, either at home while listening to music or at a public event. Do they feel invigorated? Happy? Agile?

  • Step 2

    Take students outside on a nice day and find a suitable area to use sidewalk chalk. Encourage students to take a few minutes to move around and dance! Then ask them to illustrate a dancer in motion.

  • Step 3

    Have a discussion about how exercise of all kinds is good for heart health, immunity, mental health, and life expectancy.

Standards

ARTS: Analyze ways that artistic components and cultural associations influence ideas, emotions, and actions. 

SEL: Self-Management: Exhibit self-discipline and self-motivation. Use planning and organizational skills. Show the courage to take initiative. 

SEL: Responsible Decision-Making: Reflect on one’s role to promote personal, family and community well-being. 

Adaptations

Have students explore artwork inspired by dance. Suggestion include paintings such as "The Dance Class" (1874) by Edgar Degas, "At the Moulin Rouge: The Dance" (1890) by Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, "The Dancer" (1925) by Joan Miró, or "Untitled (Dance)" (1987) by Keith Haring.

Ask students to learn about the art of choreography and explore some famous choreographers and their works. Then have them form groups and choreograph a dance.