Getting to Know Each Other Through Dance

Instructions

Opening Prompt

• Tell students:
  • A great way to build friendships is to ask questions and be a good listener. There are many things that just about anyone likes to talk about, such as favorite foods, favorite books or movies, or activities they enjoy.

For Discussion

• Ask students:
  • What is a “small talk” question you could ask just about anyone to get to know them better?

Time to Move

• Tell students:
  • Asking questions and talking is a great way to get to know people better, but we can also communicate through our bodies and movement.
  • For fun, we’re going to try a few dance steps and then practice getting to know our classmates better through a combination of conversation and movement.
  • Watch the selected dance video and invite students to stand up in their own personal space and follow along.
• Once they know the step(s), have them face a partner and try moving together.
  • To mirror each other, have one person be the “Joymaker” and start on their right foot, and the other person be the “Peacemaker” and start on the left.
  • Perhaps add a “high-five” (one handed) or “high-ten” (two handed) hand connection to help them track one another better.
• Play the video or music several times so they can practice the movement with a partner.

SEL in Practice

• Once students are comfortable moving with a partner, it will be time to practice getting to know other classmates.
• In the final exercise, invite the Joymakers to move to a new Peacemaker and take a minute to engage in “small talk” with each new partner. Rotate several times.
• Then, when the music or video starts, have them try the movement with the new partner.

Final Student Reflection

• Ask students:
  • How did it go with making small talk? And how was the dancing? Did you learn anything new about your classmates?

Source

EduMotion: SEL Journeys is a digital learning platform that integrates lessons on diversity, empathy and kindness with movement activities inspired by dances from around the world. EduMotion’s evidence-based curriculum has been used for more than a decade as a strategy to help students develop peer relationships and explore what it means to be a global citizen. Educators can get started by signing up for free dance-of-the-month content and SEL resources on edumotion.com

Evidence That It Works

In a study of 1st through 4th graders, teachers reported that dance and drama instruction contributed greatly to students’ social and emotional development.

In general, arts education has been found to increase students’ prosocial behavior, academic achievement, and positive self-concept, among other benefits.

Why Does It Matter?

Cultivating positive relationships between students is key to their academic success and well-being. Indeed, studies have found that peer acceptance relates positively to GPA in middle school and can explain up to 40% of adolescents’ academic achievement. In addition, positive peer relationships help to increase students’ resilience and self-esteem, and reduce their loneliness.

Programs that focus on cultural and social dance demonstrate that these kinds of dance experiences foster respect for others and collaboration across age, culture, and socioeconomic status.