Lesson Overview:
Students learn the Russian folk dance "Troika." Students work in groups of three (the traditional grouping used in the "Troika") to research Russian culture and history. After sharing their research findings, students create their own rendition of a Russian folk dance using the same organizational pattern and music.
Length of Lesson:
Three 45-minute periods
Notes:
This lesson is particularly suitable for grade 5.
Instructional Objectives:
Students will:
- perform the Russian folk dance "Troika" to music.
- work in small groups to research and share information on an aspect of Russia or Russian culture.
- cooperate with others in the class in creating movements that represent their findings about Russia.
- create, in a group of three, a 32-count movement sequence that communicates an aspect of life in Russia.
Supplies:
- CD or tape recording of Russian folk music
- CD or tape player
Instructional Plan:
Introduce the class to the genre of folk dancing, a form of dance performed by the people of a particular country or ethnic heritage. Explain that even though they are often performed for an audience, folk dances were originally intended for community participation.
Tell students that the steps completed in folk dances often represent aspects of life in the country from which the dance originates. For example, in the Russian folk dance “Troika,” three dancers represent horses pulling a type of sleigh called a troika in Russian. Tell students that they will learn to dance "Troika." They will then research one aspect of Russia or Russian life and share it with the class. Next, in groups of three, they will create movements that communicate those ideas about Russia. Finally, as a class and in groups of three, they will cooperatively create a movement sequence representing another aspect of Russia.
Performing the "Troika"
Teach and have the class execute the "Troika" dance while listening to music. (See the Instructions for "Troika" handout for dance steps> See "Sources" below for music suggestions.) Students should be grouped in three and form a group circle, with one group of three behind the other in a counterclockwise circle. The dance has three sections: 16 counts, 16 counts, and 32 counts.
Researching Russia
Review a list of topics about Russian history and culture with students. The list may include the following: land and climate, people, way of life, recreation, etc. You may also wish to include other areas suggested by students.
Each group of three should select one of the topics on the list. Groups must research their selected topic and be prepared to share at least three pieces of information about it. Each student in the group must contribute at least one unique piece of information. Have students use books and Internet resources for research. PBS's The Face of Russia, in particular, offers comnprehensive information on the history and culture of Russia.
Review the Oral Presentation Rubric that will be used to evaluate the oral presentation of this information.
Creating a New Folk Dance
Have each group share the three (or more) pieces of information that they gathered on their Russian topic. After completing the presentations, have the entire class brainstorm a list of ideas about Russia that could be communicated through movement. For each idea, have students think of a representative movement or gesture. To help students with movement possibilities, review and model the locomotor movements (walk, run, hop, jump, leap, skip, gallop, slide) and non-locomotor movements (bend, stretch, push, pull, swing, bounce, twist, shake).
Have the class select the three ideas they would most like to represent in their Russian folk dance. Remaining in groups of three, but working as an entire class, the students should improvise and suggest movements that communicate the first idea in the list in a 16-count sequence. The class should decide on the most appropriate movements for the first idea and then practice the 16-count sequence as a group, with music. This will be section one of the new folk dance. Revise the sequence as necessary and practice section one again.
Use the same procedure to develop the second idea into section two of the dance. Practice sections one and two together.
Break the students into groups of three, and tell them that each group will choreograph their own 32-count movement sequence that communicates the third idea in the list. Give students time to choreograph and practice the sequence, and have each group present the 32-count movement sequence to the class. They should perform the sequence to the music. Then, all
students (including the group that presented), and the teacher, individually
evaluate the presentation according to the Dance Activity Rubric.
To conclude the lesson, have all students dance their new Russian folk dance, with each group doing their own 32-count movement sequence for section three.
Assessment:
Assess student performance using the criteria presented in the rubrics:
Extensions:
Adapt or extend the lesson by substituting a folk dance from a different country.
Videotape the new Russian folk dance. Show the tape to other classes and see if they can answer questions such as:
- What country do you think this folk dance represents?
- What ideas do yo think the students were trying to communicate in each of the three sections of the dance?
- What did you learn about the Russian people from watching this new folk dance?
Sources:
Print
- Harris, Pittman Waller. Dance A While. (5th ed.) Minneapolis: Burgess Publishing Company, 1978. p. 216, 304.
- Mynatt, C. and B. Kaiman. Folk Dancing for Students and Teachers. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1975. p. 65.
Media
- Children’s Folk Dance (CD or tape recording). Kimbo U.S.A., P.O. Box 477, Long Branch, New Jersey 07740. 1-800-631-2187.
- Folk Dancing for Elementary School Grades (CD or tape recording). Hoctor Records, P.O. Box 38, Waldwich, New Jersey, 07463. 1-800-462-8679.
Authors:
-
Lillian Hasko, Dance Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
Silver Spring, MD United States
