Lesson Plan: Introduction to Street and Hip-Hop Dance

Learning Objective

Total Time: 5 minutes

Students will be able to understand the history, elements, and styles of street and hip-hop dance while demonstrating basic movements to a hip-hop rhythm.

Assessments

Total Time: 5 minutes

Students will demonstrate their understanding through participation in a group choreography and by sharing their thoughts about the origin and significance of their chosen hip-hop dance style.

Key Points

Total Time: 5 minutes

  • History of Hip-Hop Dance: Understanding the roots and evolution from street dance to mainstream culture.

  • Styles of Street and Hip-Hop Dance: Introduction to B-boying, Popping, Locking, and Krumping.

  • Musicality: Working in sync with hip-hop rhythms and beats.

Opening

Total Time: 5 minutes

  • Start with a high-energy hip-hop performance video (e.g., from a popular dance group) to captivate students.

  • Pose the question: "What emotions or messages do you think hip-hop dance conveys?" to spark discussion.

Introduction to New Material

Total Time: 10 minutes

  • Discuss & illustrate the history of hip-hop dance using a PowerPoint presentation.

  • Define key vocabulary terms: from 'freestyle' to 'crew'.

  • Break down examples of common moves through short demonstrations by the teacher.

Guided Practice

Total Time: 10 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different hip-hop style (e.g., B-boying, Popping).

  • Each group will learn basic steps of their assigned style by following an instructional video or teacher-led demonstration.

  • Groups will practice and then switch styles to ensure exposure to all forms.

Independent Practice

Total Time: 5 minutes

  • Each student will create a short dance sequence (4-8 counts) utilizing moves learned from preferably two different styles they practiced.

  • Encourage them to express their individuality in their choreography.

Closing

Total Time: 5 minutes

  • Groups will perform their short sequences for the class or record videos to share later.

  • Facilitate a class discussion on how street and hip-hop dance can serve as a form of expression and social commentary.

Extension Activity

Total Time: 5 minutes

  • Students who finish early will be encouraged to research a hip-hop dancer or crew they admire and prepare a short presentation on their influence in the hip-hop community.

Homework

Total Time: 5 minutes

  • Assign students to create a reflective journal entry on their personal experiences with street or hip-hop dance, describing what they enjoyed most and what they found challenging.

Standards Aligned

Total Time: 5 minutes

  • PPST standards aligned: Promoting physical and emotional health through personal expression and teamwork in physical activities.