Feel the Beat Slides Feel the Beat
Lesson 1: Introduction to Movement
Global Groove Adventure
Our Big Question:
"Why do people around the world dance together?"
What is Dance?
Happy Moves
Slow Moves
Fast Moves
Together!
Match the Music!
Fast
Quick, tiny steps!
VS
Slow
Long, reaching moves!
FREEZE DANCE!
1. Music starts? DANCE!
2. Music stops? FREEZE!
3. Listen to the tempo!
When have you danced?
Birthdays
Parties
At Home
People have danced to celebrate for thousands of years!
Feel the Beat Teacher Guide Feel the Beat Guide
Teacher Facilitation Resource
Lesson 1: Intro to Movement
Learning Goals
Students will move their bodies in response to music tempo.
Students will distinguish between fast and slow music.
Students will identify dance as a tool for celebration.
Materials Needed
Music player + Fast/Slow tracks
"Feel the Beat" Lesson Slides
"My Movement" Worksheet
Activity: The Global Freeze Dance
20 Minutes
How to Play:
The goal is to help students realize that their body reacts to music instinctively. Use different cultural tracks (e.g., Brazilian Samba for fast, Japanese Koto for slow).
Facilitation Prompts:
"The music is fast! Can you make your feet move like a hummingbird?"
"The music is slow... can you move through the air like you're underwater?"
"FREEZE! Hold your shape. What feeling is your body showing right now?"
TEACHER TIP
Encourage students to use different levels (high, medium, low) to increase body awareness.
Classroom Discussion
1
Connection to Home
"When have you seen grown-ups or kids dancing? Is it usually at a sad time or a happy time?"
2
The Purpose of Dance
"If we couldn't use our voices, how could we show someone we are excited using only our bodies?"
3
Cultural Link
"All over the world—in Africa, Europe, Asia, and America—people use their bodies to tell their stories. This week, we're going on a world tour!"
Feel the Beat Worksheet How My Body Feels
Global Groove Adventure
Name:
Date:
When we dance, our bodies show our feelings! Draw how you move when the music is FAST and when it is SLOW .
FAST
I move quick like a rabbit!
SLOW
I move smooth like a turtle!
How do you feel when you dance?
Happy
Energetic
Calm
Brave
Circle your favorite feeling!
Hand Storytellers Slides Hand Storytellers
Lesson 2: Dancing with Hula
Polynesian Traditions
What is Hula?
Hula is a traditional dance from the islands of Hawai'i.
"The hands are the voice of the dancer."
Nature in our Hands
Rain
Flutter fingers downward like falling drops.
Ocean
Roll hands over each other like waves.
Sun
Make a big circle with both arms high.
Dance Your Story
"The SUN shines on the blue OCEAN while the RAIN falls down."
Can you show me with your hands?
Listen to the Ipu Drum
Keep the Sway
Hand Storytellers Teacher Guide Hand Stories Guide
Hula Facilitation Notes
Lesson 2: Hula Traditions
Big Idea
Polynesian Hula is a "literary" dance. It was used to preserve history and genealogy before written language. Hand gestures are specific vocabulary words .
Key Hand Vocabulary
Rain (Ua): Fingers wiggling downward from eye level.
Flower (Pua): Hands joined at wrists, fingers blooming open.
Ocean (Moana): Flat hands rolling like waves in front of chest.
Sun (Lā): Arms forming a large circle above the head.
Movement Lesson Flow
1. The Sway
5 Minutes
Introduce the Kāholo step (4 counts right, 4 counts left). "Keep your knees bent like a spring!" This builds the rhythmic foundation for the hand stories.
2. Nature Mime
10 Minutes
Model the hand signs. Call out a nature word and have students "speak" it with their hands. Encourage graceful, fluid movements rather than sharp ones.
3. Sentence Dance
10 Minutes
Create a simple sequence: Sun → Ocean → Rain → Flower .
"The Sun (arms up) shines on the Ocean (wave hands) while the Rain (wiggle fingers) helps the Flower (bloom hands) grow."
Thinking Deeply
"Why do we need our hands to tell the story? What if we just used our voices?" (Focus on visual storytelling).
"In Hawai'i, the ocean and flowers are everywhere. What things in our city or neighborhood could we make a hand sign for?"
Hand Storytelling Activity Sheet Hand Stories
Nature in Motion
Name:
Match the Story!
Draw a line from the Hand Move to the Nature Picture it tells a story about.
Ocean
Sun
Rain
My Favorite Hand Sign
Draw yourself dancing with your hands here!
Global Groove Adventure • Lesson 2 • Hula Storytelling
The Big Circle Slides The Big Circle
Lesson 3: Dancing Together
European Folk Traditions
Why a Circle?
Village Traditions
Long ago in Europe, people danced in the middle of their towns to celebrate holidays and harvests.
Mountains
Villages
Festivals
Circle Power!
Space
Don't bump into your neighbors!
Trust
Hold hands gently.
READY TO ROUND?
1. Hold hands in a big circle.
2. Walk to the right (4 steps).
3. All walk to the center (4 steps)!
The Big Circle Teacher Guide The Big Circle Guide
Community Dance Facilitation
Lesson 3: Cooperation
Social Skills
Awareness of neighbor's space.
Responding to group cues.
Physical cooperation (holding hands).
Cultural Focus
"European Folk Dances (like the English 'Maypole' or French 'Branle') often use circles to show that every member of the village is important. There is no leader—the group is the leader."
Simple Circle Dance: "The Friendship Round"
1-4
Walk Right
Join hands and circle right.
5-8
Center
Everyone walk 4 steps in.
9-12
Out
Everyone walk 4 steps back.
13-16
Stomp
Release hands, stomp 4x.
Facilitation Tips
"If the circle breaks, stop the music! Ask: 'How can we fix our chain?'"
"Have students look at the person across from them. 'Give them a silent hello with your eyes!'"
Debrief Questions
"What was the hardest part of moving together?"
"How did you know when to walk into the center?" (Listening to the group).
"Did you feel stronger alone or when we were holding hands?"
The Big Circle Worksheet The Big Circle
Friends Dancing Together
Name:
We are a Team!
In a circle dance, everyone is special. Draw yourself and your friends holding hands in a big circle.
Our Circle
Who is next to you in the circle? Draw them!
Circle the face that shows how it feels to dance with friends: Drum Dance Power Slides Drum Dance Power
Lesson 4: Rhythm and Energy
West African Traditions
The Drum's Voice
In many West African cultures, the DRUM is the heart of the community.
"When the drum speaks, the body listens!"
BOOM-BOOM
High Energy Power!
Stomp
Feet hitting the ground like a drum beat.
Reach
Arms stretching wide to the sky.
Jump
Strong legs pushing off the floor.
Is it the same?
Last week we were SMOOTH like the ocean. Today we are SHARP like a drum beat!
Smooth
Soft, flowing, slow.
Sharp
Strong, quick, rhythmic.
THE DRUM SAYS...
STOMP! STOMP!
CLAP! CLAP!
AND JUMP!
Drum Dance Power Teacher Guide Drum Dance Guide
West African Rhythm Focus
Lesson 4: Energy
Movement Quality
Sharp vs. Smooth:
Students should contrast the fluid Hula movements with the percussive, grounded movements of West African styles.
Essential Rhythms
The Pulse
Consistent 4/4 beat. 1-2-3-4.
The Syncopation
Short-short-long. Ta-ta-Taaa.
Activity: Movement Call & Response
Use a djembe drum (or tap a table/floor) to lead the class. This mimics traditional teaching methods where dancers learn from the drummer.
Teacher: "Boom - Boom - Clap!" (Stomp - Stomp - Clap hands)
Students: Repeat the movement exactly back to you.
Gross Motor Skills
Low Stomp
Bent knees, flat feet hitting the floor. Build the sound of the class drum together.
High Jump
Explosive movement up on the loud beat. Reach hands wide like the sun.
Check for Understanding
"If the drum is fast, how do your feet move? If the drum is slow and quiet, what do you do?"
Drum Dance Power Worksheet Rhythm Power
Sharp and Smooth Moves
Name:
Is it Sharp or Smooth?
Circle the pictures that show SHARP and STRONG movements like a drum beat.
Strong Stomp
Soft Float
Power Jump
Quiet Rest
My Strongest Move
Draw yourself doing a big, sharp movement!
Our Big Dance Slides Our Big Dance
Unit Finale: A Global Celebration
Level: Dance Masters
Our Dance Toolkit
Hand Stories
Nature and feelings.
Big Circles
Moving together.
Drum Beats
Power and rhythm.
Create Our Own Dance
"What moves should we pick to show that our class is AWESOME?"
1
Choose a STORY.
2
Choose a SHAPE.
3
Choose a BEAT.
PRACTICE!
Look at your friends.
Listen to the beat.
Smile and breathe!
Try your best!
SHOWTIME
Our Class Celebration Dance
Everyone is a Dancer!
Our Big Dance Teacher Guide Our Big Dance Guide
Choreography & Celebration
Lesson 5: Synthesis
Cognitive Goals
Recall movements from 3 different cultures.
Combine movements into a new sequence.
Reflect on the meaning of community dance.
The Music Mix
Select a track that has a clear, steady beat but a joyful, celebratory feel. (e.g., Afro-pop or a modern world-fusion track).
Class Choreography Process
1. Recall
Ask students: "Which move was your absolute favorite?" Model the options (Swaying palm trees, Circle walk, Power jumps). Pick 3 distinct moves to include in the "Class Dance."
2. Order
Decide the sequence. Example: "We start in a Circle (community), then we tell a Hand Story (feelings), and we finish with Drums (celebration)."
3. Polish
Run the dance 3 times. Focus on the transitions. "How do we go from a circle to our power jumps?"
Unit Closing Reflection
Closing Circle Questions:
"We just went around the whole world with our bodies. Which culture's dance made you feel the strongest?"
"Why do you think people in every country like to dance together?"
"If you saw someone from far away dancing, would you know how they were feeling even if you didn't speak their language?"
Hand out "Global Dancer" Certificates
Global Groove Completion Certificate Official Certificate
Global Groove Master
This award is proudly presented to:
For learning how to tell stories with their hands, dance in a circle with friends, and keep the beat of the drum from all around the world!
Teacher Signature
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