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Movement Phrases

Fourth graders learn to build a movement phrase — choosing a few movements, putting them in order, and connecting them so they flow — the first step toward choreographing their own dances.

Grade 4Choreography40 minutes1 class periodArtistic ProcessExplicit teaching4 StandardsNCAS
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Build a movement phrase.
  • ✓Put moves in order.
  • ✓Connect them smoothly.
  • ✓Perform a phrase.
Essential Question

A dance is made of movement phrases — short sequences of moves, like sentences of a dance. How do you build one?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Movement-Phrase Steps

Project this and have children put the steps of building a movement phrase in order.

💃 Put the movement-phrase steps in order!Try it
Tap the first step!
The Lesson · Artistic Process (Warm-Up · Explore · Create · Perform · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Sentences of a Dance

5 min

A movement phrase is like a sentence of a dance — how do you build one?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a short phrase.
  • Ask what makes it flow.
  • Warm up.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Wonder.
  • Warm up.
2

Explore — Movement Phrases

10 min

Children explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send children to Order the Movement-Phrase Steps.
  • Order them.
  • Note connecting moves.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order.
  • Note it.
  • Name.
3

Create — Create

11 min

Children create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick 3 movements.
  • Put them in order.
  • Connect them smoothly.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Order.
  • Connect.
4

Perform — Perform

9 min

Children perform.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Perform your phrase.
  • Make it flow.
  • Give critique.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Perform it.
  • Flow it.
  • Critique.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Children respond.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name the first step.
  • Say what a phrase is.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the National Core Arts Standards (Dance).

NCAS
DA:Cr2.1.4

Combine movements into a phrase.

NCAS
DA:Cr1.1.4

Generate movement ideas.

NCAS
DA:Pr5.1.4

Practice a movement phrase.

NCAS
DA:Pr6.1.4

Perform a phrase.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Phrase-step cards.
  • Sentence frame: “First ___, then ___.”
  • Build together.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with 2 movements.
  • Order two at a time.
  • Connect them.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Build a longer phrase.
  • Add levels.
  • Combine two phrases.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🎵Music
  • 💻Order the Movement-Phrase Steps
  • 👟Open space
  • 🖍️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

movement phrasea short sequence of movessequencemoves in orderconnectto link smoothlyflowmoving without stoppingchoreographto create a danceorderthe arrangement of movespracticeto rehearseperformto show a dance
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a movement phrase?
A short sequence of movements, like a sentence of a dance.
QUESTION 2
What is a good FIRST step in building a phrase?
Pick 3 or 4 movements you like.
QUESTION 3
Why connect the movements?
So the phrase flows smoothly.

Reflect: build a phrase.

Have children build a movement phrase of 3 moves at home and perform it for family. A printable phrases sheet is in the Arts library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Movement PhrasesFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Movement PhrasesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Movement PhrasesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: choreograph, connect, flow, movement phrase, order, perform, practice, sequence
  1. moves in order
  2. to link smoothly
  3. to rehearse
  4. the arrangement of moves
  5. to create a dance
  6. moving without stopping
  7. to show a dance
  8. a short sequence of moves

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a movement phrase?
  2. What is a good FIRST step in building a phrase?
  3. Why connect the movements?
Answer key — Part A: 1) sequence · 2) connect · 3) practice · 4) order · 5) choreograph · 6) flow · 7) perform · 8) movement phrase
Part B: 1) A short sequence of movements, like a sentence of a dance. 2) Pick 3 or 4 movements you like. 3) So the phrase flows smoothly.