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Let's Study Dance
EIGO NOTO: 1-8 SUBMITTED BY: Amy Yosh BORROWED FROM / INSPIRED BY: Original DATE ADDED: Sep 07, 2010 EDITED BY: Mooloo
 ð 20-30 min. If you're going to give this activity a low-rating, please post a useful comment to help make it better. SearchENActivity  |
Brief Outline
Students learn the similarities and differences between Japanese schools and Western schools. Students study comparisions of subjects studied, classroom set-up, and special activities.
Materials Needed (not included)
- Pictures of classrooms from the ALT's home country
- Audio clip of the Macarena or Chicken Dance
Detailed Explanation
- After reviewing subject names from Lesson 8; the ALT shows students pictures of schools, classrooms and students from their home country. Use pictures of the school playground, a typical classroom, and students doing special activities throughout the year. The ALT also discusses what subjects students from Western cultures study.
- Focusing on P.E., ask students what sports/activities they think Western student study (gymnastics, skipping, basketball, soccer, baseball, hockey, etc). Odds are that the Japanese students aren't going to say "Dance". In my province in Canada, there is mandatory dance unit for P.E., which is where children typically learn the Macarena or Chicken Dance.
- Demonstrate whichever dance you choose (I usually choose the Macarena for the older students), and then proceed to teach the students the dance moves. It makes for a fun final lesson, and you usually get the kids to loosen up quite a bit.
Variations
- For the Macarena, the students couldn't believe that there was only arm actions for the dance, so I added a grapevine step of 4 beats, repeated 3 times before the hip swivel (I think that's what these dance moves are called, but I'm not sure).
Teaching Suggestions
- This lesson also works well for the younger grades, but I teach them the Chicken Dance instead.
- If your school will allow it, video the students final performance and let the students watch themselves. My students thought they were hilarious!
- I also used this to review numbers 1-12 by counting out the actions. The final 4 beats of the dance set is when dancers are supposed to sing "Hey Macarena", which is why I only count up to 12.
- If you have 30 students or more, you may want to ask for an empty classroom/gym for this lesson.