Performing Arts Term 2 Overviews

Prep

This term, preps are learning all about music by exploring ways of producing sound using their voices, body percussion, instruments and objects individually and in groups. 

For the first half of the term we are focusing on singing. The students will learn why we need to warm up our voices before singing, as well as how to use pitch and volume. Week 5 will end with a small performance in the class, singing a song that they have been practising for the previous weeks. 

For the remaining weeks of the term, they will be exploring different percussion instruments, learning the names and how to play them. There will be another small performance in class, showing their knowledge of how to play instruments in time with the music.

Year 1

In term 2, year 1 students are introduced to what movement is, and what dance is. Students will work on body awareness, use of body zones and body parts, using space at various levels and directions. Students are then introduced to tempo and rhythm, energy in terms of quality and relationships with others while moving.

Year 2

Students in grade 2 are focusing on music this term, specifically singing and playing instruments. Each class will be rehearsing a different song, focusing on pitch and tempo to sing in time with the music. At the end of week 5, students will put on a small performance in their class, demonstrating what they have learnt. For the remaining week of the term, students will be playing different percussion instruments to demonstrate and explore their knowledge of rhythm, beat, timbre, tone, pitch and tempo. In the final week of term they will write their own short piece of music to perform for the class.

Year 3

In term 2, Year 3 students focus on the elements of body and space. Students are asked to initiate movements found in the natural environment and use these movements into a dance phrase. Students also use dance as a language to represent ideas and feelings. Students also explore patterns as a way to represent dance sequences.

Year 4

Students in Year 4 will be exploring the 5 elements of dance (Body, Energy, Action, Space and Time) through various creative movement activities. They will be working towards engaging in a class chorus dance and creating small performances for their classmates in groups. To enhance the practical side of dance, the students will be investigating the purpose behind dance as a method of storytelling and creative expression asking the questions of who is performing, why they are performing and making these choices, and how that is changed by who they are performing to.

Year 5

Throughout this term of dance students will be completing an in depth exploration of two elements of dance, Action and Space, through various creative movement/dance activities. This will include a variety of dance and music styles with directed or co-created choreography. This term will have the year 5 students working in “squads” (small groups) to complete a set of choreography that will have them create a small “dance recital”. To enhance their performances the students will be looking to use their theoretical knowledge of action and space, both recognising and improving their choreography with it. 

Year 6

Throughout this term of dance students will be completing an in depth exploration of two elements of dance, Energy and Time, through various creative movement/dance activities. This will include a variety of dance and music styles with directed or co-created choreography. This term will have the students working towards completing an "evolution of dance" piece that looks at popular choreography from the 1950s to now. To enhance this performance the students will be aiming to incorporate their newfound understanding of Energy and Time. To support the practical side, students will be using their questioning skills to explore the choices made by dancers, considering culture, purpose and the elements.

Year 7

Students in Year 7 will be focussing on Music in Performing Arts for Term 2 and will be discovering how we use the elements of music to play and perform for an audience. The elements that they will cover include: form, texture, timbre, rhythm and expression. Students will be using instruments such as guitars, keyboards and drums to apply their understanding of concepts and create compositions using Garageband.