Dance: Plants
PE | Year 2 | Unit Overview
Introduction
Each lesson in this unit has a different focus linked to the topic of plants.
Children will explore movements based on working in the garden, different
types of seeds and how plants grow. The final two lessons of the unit are
based on the traditional story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Throughout the unit,
children will dance on their own, with partners and in groups. This unit also
teaches children the importance of determination, teamwork and respect, as
well as providing regular opportunities for peer and self assessment.
Health & Safety
Check the dancing area for any hazards before beginning the lesson. Make
sure that all children have bare feet and are appropriately dressed. Long
hair should be tied back and all jewellery removed before dancing. Complete
a warm-up at the start of each lesson and always end with a cool-down.
Always follow your school’s risk assessment when teaching PE.
Home Learning
This activity sheet provides children with a set of six fun and engaging dance
activities linked to their learning. The activities can be completed with a
friend or family member at home or during extra curricular time at school.
Wider Learning
• Use this PowerPoint Presentation to look at different types of plants, their
features and what they need to grow.
• Practise measuring height and length using this PowerPoint Presentation
based on the beanstalk.
• Use these differentiated Activity Sheets to look at the life cycle of a bean.
• Learn some songs and rhymes based on plants and growth using this
Resource Pack.
• Use this resource to create some paper craft based on flowers.
• Use this PowerPoint Presentation to read the story of Jack and
the Beanstalk.
To look at all the resources in the Dance: Plants
unit click here.
To find out more about Twinkl Move download
our free guide here.
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Assessment Statements
By the end of this unit...
...all children should be able to:
• copy and repeat movements to form a simple motif;
• perform some actions in unison and canon;
• copy the movements and body shapes of others to
represent a plant growing;
• answer simple questions about the performance of
others with support;
• copy the movements of other members of their group;
• move their body showing some control;
• combine given movements to create a dance based
on plants;
• create some appropriate body shapes and make
some movements that show awareness of the music;
• copy the movements of others to represent different
parts of a story;
• answer questions about their performance with some
support;
• copy the movements of others to represent
different parts of a story and perform them in unison
with a partner;
• perform a whole dance with some prompting.
...most children will be able to:
• use and remember their own movements as part of a
motif to show preparing a garden;
• perform a range of movements in canon and unison;
• use different movements and body shapes to
represent a plant growing;
• evaluate the performance of others by answering
questions, identifying strengths independently and
can improve their own performance using ideas from
their partner;
• work cooperatively in a group to create suitable
movements to represent different types of seeds;
• perform a range of movements , some at different
speeds or levels, showing good body control;
• use movements from their previous learning to create
a dance based on plants;
• perform a range of body movements and shapes and
perform some of these in time with the music;
• create and remember suitable movements to
represent the different parts of a story and perform
some of these at different speeds and levels.
• talk about what they have done well in their
performances and begin to show ideas on how to
improve their own dances;
 • create suitable movements to represent different
parts of a story and perform them in a mixture of
canon and unison;
• remember the structure of a whole dance and
perform it independently.

...some children will be able to:

• create a range of suitable movements and remember
and perform these, in both canon and unison, as part
of a motif to show preparing a garden;
• adapt their motif to include changes of level and add
appropriate facial expressions;
• demonstrate a wide variety of movements and
body shapes to represent a plant growing, including
pauses and changes of speed when appropriate;
• give a detailed evaluation of the performance of
others, including areas for improvement and can
make improvements to their own performance from
their observations and feedback;
• suggest how their group might adapt their movements
to include changes of speed, level or direction;
• create clear body shapes, performing a range of
controlled movements at different speeds and levels;
• use a variety of movements to create an imaginative
dance based on plants which includes changes of
speed and levels;
• perform and transition between a range of body
movements and shapes, showing a good awareness
of timing when performing with music;
• adapt and improve their movements, performing
them confidently at different speeds and levels and
can add suitable facial expressions when appropriate;
• identify what they have done well with some detail
and explain how to improve a performance;
• adapt and improve their movements, performing
them in both canon and unison and add suitable
facial expressions where appropriate;
• clearly explain the structure of a whole dance and
perform it confidently and independently.

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Lesson Breakdown Resources

1. Dig the Garden • Lesson Pack

• Hoops
To develop balance and co-ordination.
• Tambourine
To perform dances using simple movement patterns with a
partner in the context of plants and growing.
• To create and perform a dance motif inspired by
a stimulus.

2. Get Growing • Lesson Pack

• Tambourine
To develop balance and co-ordination.
• Video Clip of bean plant growing
To perform dances using simple movements patterns to
represent the growth of a plant.
• To use different movements and body shapes to represent
a plant growing.

3. Seeds • Lesson Pack

• Tambourine
To develop balance and co-ordination.
• Video Clip of sycamore seeds
To perform dances using simple movements patterns as part of
falling
a group.
• Video Clip of exploding seeds
• To create movements to represent different types of
seeds.

4. Our Own Dance • Lesson Pack

• Tambourine
To develop balance and co-ordination.
• Music (The Blue Danube Waltz by
To perform dances using simple movements patterns created
Johann Strauss)
with a partner in the context of plants growing in the garden.
• Music (English Country Garden by
• To work with a partner to create a dance based on plants. Jimmie Rodgers)

5. The Beanstalk • Lesson Pack

• Drum
To develop balance and co-ordination.
To perform dances using simple movements patterns to
represent the parts of a traditional story.
• To create movements to represent the different parts of a
story.

6. At the Top of the Beanstalk • Lesson Pack

To develop balance and co-ordination.

To perform dances using simple movements patterns to
represent the parts of a traditional story.
• To work with a partner to create movements to represent
the parts of a story.

To look at all the resources in the Dance: Plants unit click here. National Curriculum Aim Lesson Context Child Friendly

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