Tap,Tap your feet to the Health & Fitness Beat!

Students will begin lesson by watching a short clip (5 min) of Highschool Musical where there is a dance scene. Students will then be asked the following questions after viewing. Questions will be modified for specific grade levels (K-4).

Q1: Do you think dancing is good exercise? Why?
Q2: What skills do you think you need to dance?
Q3: What makes dancing fun?

Explain to the students that dancing provides an opportunity for self-expression, creativity, and enjoyment. It is also a great way to exercise and keep your muscles strong and your mind alert!

Show them the DDR revolution dance platforms that are hooked up to the TV and playstation 2 video game. Explain to the students how music is selected on the music wheel. Press the blue right arrow to move the music wheel up and press the left blue arrow to move the music wheel down. Be sure to introduce students to the concept of BPM (beats per minute) they might have heard this word in their music class. Show them that each song selection has a BPM notation the higher the BPM number the more beats per minute and the more challenging the song is to dance to. The lower the BPM the less challenging the song will be to follow. Begin by demonstrating how the dance platform works and how the interactive video game works. Students need to watch the TV screen for arrows that scroll up the screen. When the arrows get to the top of the screen and line up with white arrows at the top of the screen that is when they must press the corresponding arrow on the dance platform that they are standing on.

Take some time to do some introductory dance step lessons. Call out left, right, front, or back and have them place the foot closes to that arrow on top of it. Continue until you observe students are becoming familiar with directions and placing foot on top of arrow on command.

Have two students at front on two main platforms. Have students play rock, paper, scissors to decide on who the "Music Selector" will be. The person that wins gets to select which song they would like to dance to. Explain to students the importance of good sportsmanship, respect for differences among their peers with regards to dancing ability, and having fun while getting fit!