Emotions: Connecting SEL to Dance
Students will begin the unit by reading the book “The Color Monster.” They will become familiar with most common emotions, and transition into learning about what opposite emotions look and feel like. Once students are comfortable and can accurately describe different emotions both vocally and physically they will begin to learn how to control such emotions. Students will dig a little deeper into uncomfortable feelings and they will learn new coping skills with how to manage those feelings. By the very end of the unit, students will be able to show empathy towards one another and be able to identify when one of their peers might be experiencing a strong emotion so that they can best support each other.
Introduction to Our Emotions
Reading The Color Monster to introduce the emotions being used throughout the unit. Student are being assessed on their ability to use a movement or pose to portal the emotions in the book.
Opposite Emotions
This lesson focuses on students ability to connect opposite emotions to locomotor movements .This activities also uses partner work to improve student's team work skills.
Expressing and Controlling Emotions
In this lesson students will be learning how to express and control their emotions. Using the rainbow breathing and the 5 finger breathing exercises, to learn self-control.
Empathy and Teamwork
In this lesson students are learning how to have empathy towards others and how to work as a team. Students will work in groups, choreographing a short phrase working with two opposite emotions. Ex. happy and sad, or angry and calm. They will then perform their dance to the class.