Lesson Date: April 27, 2016

Teacher Name: Miss Kat Ferriss

Objectives
One will be able to understand the concepts of tension versus release
Explore energy flowing through different parts of the body
Understand how to utilize energy to create dynamic movement
Find ways to use tension and release properties in phrase work
Explore different ways of releasing the body
Materials

Rubber Bands
Music
Dancers
Floor/Studio space
Teacher

Methodology
This class will include learning from research/exploration using a rubber band and
the human body. We will use the visual aid to better understand the learning
objectives and use our bodies to explore our discoveries. The teacher will lead this
class with room for students to interpret and understand the outlined combinations
differently in their unique bodies.

Introduction of Concepts
Class will begin with the group in a circle. We will start by talking about what
tension feels like and then talk about what feel relaxed feels like. We will move into
different poses that represent these feelings, to end with movements that could
represent these feelings. This is where the teacher will introduce the visual aid,
rubber bands. We will continue to explore what happens when the rubber band is
pulled apart, what happens if we snap it, etc. This will become the imagery used
through out the class.

Exploration & Application of Concepts

Rubber Band Concept Exploration: Students will spread out across the floor with
the rubber bands. The teacher will first ask the students to follow along with the
shapes she is making with his/her rubber band with their own rubber bands. They
will continue to discuss the tension versus release in the shapes being created.
Then the students will be asked to make shapes with their band and mimic the
motions with their own body. After they explore on their own, the teacher will pair
up the students to challenge each other to follow one anothers shapes/motions
being created.
Group Inspired Combination: The teacher will ask each pair from the previous
combination to come up with one shape/motion to share with the class. The pairs
will teach each of their shapes to the entire class and we will combine these
movements/shapes to create a long phrase. After everyone has shared with the
class, the class will go through the phrase keeping in mind the tension verse
released movements. The teacher will split up into groups and the students will be

able to observe the movement. We will end with a discussion on what we noticed.

Post-class Reflection
We will end class with a cool down and discussion. Regrouping in a circle, we will
compare the different tensions used during class. We will end class with a reflection
of how this might relate to our unit theme and end with class take aways.