Diane Louise Jordan finds out about magnetism, with dances full of pushing and pulling power.
2. Marvellous magnets
In the second session the children move like a compass needle responding to magnetic North, then explore sudden changes between the ‘attracting’ and ‘repelling’ effects of magnetic polarities changing. Electro-magnetism brings movement alive with power surging through their bodies in partner work and in the group creation of ‘scrap-metal sculptures’. These are combined in a whole class extravaganza of invisible forces.
Resources
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Download the audio for this dance session as an mp3 file.
Teacher's Notes
Guidance on using the dance sessions in this unit with your group (pdf)
Movement focus
Action: Pointing, leaning and rotating; waving arms; straining and pulling actions.
Dynamics: Responding to imaginary ‘invisible’ force; suddenly changing between ‘attracting’ and ‘repelling’; showing strong, bold impulses.
Space: Travelling while turning; negotiating ‘invisible’ forces; locating partners across a room; using centre of room as a focus for four groups, along four sides.
Relationships: Working in pairs to explore ‘attracting and repelling’ movements of hands and whole body; matching timing; sending ‘power’ around a circle; making group shapes as ‘bendy wire’ and ‘scrap-metal sculpture’; creating a whole class dance.
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