Lesson Overview
Line Plot Dance
GRADES 4-6 MATH AND DANCE
I’m a big believer in finding areas where students struggle with opportunities to connect with the arts. Line plot dance definitely would qualify as one of these areas. In today’s lesson, we’re pairing traditional mathematical line plot dance with choreographic writing to produce line plot dance. Once your students get rolling with this lesson, it will be hard to get them to stop!
Provide students with several different examples of choreographic writing. In small groups, try to decipher what the symbols indicate.
Review examples of line plots from previous classes. Compare the line plots and the choreography for similarities and differences.
Lesson Process:
Step 1: Gather students into two teams. Each team must create a line plot with as many segments as team members. Label these as fractions (ie: 1/8, 2/8, 3/8, etc).
Step 2: Ask each member of the group to silently write down where they would like to stand on the line chart. Collect the numbers and place an “x” for each number marked. For instance, if 3 people wanted to stand at 1/8, there would be 3 “x”’s above that number..
Step 3: Once the numbers have been plotted, the team must now figure out a way for there to be an equitable distribution of “x”s along the number line.
Step 4: Decide what x’s will move and how they will move (curves, slide, etc). Draw this on the paper – this becomes the choreography
Step 5: Have students line up like the original number line and move as specified in their number line drawing.
Time Required:
30-45 minutes
Materials List:
- Several examples of mathematical line plots
- Several examples of written choreography
- Paper, pencils
- Space to move
Assessment:
In small groups, create a new choreographed dance based on a given line plot from the teacher. Perform for the class.
