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“And now to celebrate let's do the Albatross dance!”
- Kainoa
Big Idea: Interpret and create their own patterned Albatross dance.
At the end of this lesson students will be able to:
Communicate through movement to tell a story
Discover movements unique to the Laysan Albatross
Use role play and masks to take on a character
Materials: Projecting device and Youtube videos, music and speakers, mask outline,
art supplies such as pencil crayons, feathers, glue, etc for mask masking.
Dance
A1.1 translate into dance a variety of movement sequences observed in nature
A1.1 imitate movements found in their natural environment in a variety of ways and incorporate them into a dance phrase
A1.4 use the elements of energy (e.g., collapse, explode, float) and time (e.g., duration, suddenness) in a dance piece to communicate an idea
A2.2 identify, using dance vocabulary, the elements of dance used in their own and others’ dance pieces and explain how each helps communicate ideas and feelings
Drama
B1.1 engage actively in drama exploration and role play, with a focus on exploring drama structures, key ideas, and pivotal moments in their own stories and stories from diverse communities, times, and places
Art
D1.1 create two- and three-dimensional works of art that express feelings and ideas inspired by activities in their community or observations of nature
Do birds really dance? Makani and Kainoa do a celebration dance when they’re hatching their egg. Revisit the Laysan Albatross Youtube Videos. There are more videos posted below that are specific to the movement patterns that the Albartross uses during their courtship. Ask students to pay attention to the movements they use when courting their partner. Ask: why do birds do these dances? Are there patterns in their movements?
Record the types of movements described. Here are some examples: Head-Shake, Tail-Shake, Head Up-Tail Up, Bowing, Down-Up.
Video Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBm3oqMnWyo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvpHBALOCAI&t=39s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1pJwOnYrs0
Using the mask outline, students will use classroom art materials to create their very own Laysan Albatross mask.
Once completed, students will get into groups and create a sequence of patterned Laysan Albatross dance drawing from some of the movements they witnessed in the play and videos.
When groups are ready to perform, have them demonstrate their dance in the masks for the rest of the class. Ask for a compliment from the class after each group has performed.