Homeschool Guide: These lesson plans are a guide for parents. Content may contain errors — always cross-reference with official exam board specifications.

choreographic devices

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4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.

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Lesson Overview

Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA

Learning Objectives

Prerequisites

Materials & Equipment

Lesson 1: Introduction: choreographic devices

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about choreographic devices. Then check against the key terms: key terms from choreographic devices. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: key terms from choreographic devices.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: choreographic devices. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Dance because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look

Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: explain the key ideas of choreographic devices

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about choreographic devices.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: choreographic devices

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on choreographic devices. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: Choreographic devices are tools used to develop and structure movement material
Key Fact: Repetition involves repeating a movement or phrase to create emphasis or recognition
Key Fact: Unison means all dancers performing the same movement at the same time
Key Fact: Canon is when dancers perform the same movement one after another in sequence
Key Fact: Accumulation builds a phrase by adding one movement at a time, retaining earlier movements
Key Fact: Retrograde means performing a movement phrase in reverse order, like rewinding a video

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: explain the key ideas of choreographic devices

Answer:

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.

Lesson 3: Application: choreographic devices

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: key terms from choreographic devices. Define each in one sentence.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.

Work through the practice questions on the revision notes page for this topic.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Error Review

Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.

Lesson 4: Exam Practice: choreographic devices

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Command Words

Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).

Main Content (35 minutes)

Exam-Style Question

Attempt a past-paper style question on choreographic devices from the exam board past paper finder (see Resources), then mark it against the scheme.

Exam Tips: Always name the specific device — do not just describe what happens | Link each device to its effect on the audience and the choreographic intention | In NEA written tasks, identify the device and explain why you chose it | For professional works, identify devices used and explain how they contribute to the piece | Remember: devices develop material, they do not replace it — the original movement is always the foundation
Common Errors: ✗ Canon means dancers perform different movements at the same time. ✓ Canon means dancers perform the same movement phrase but start at different times in sequence. ✗ Repetition is just doing the same thing over and over with no purpose. ✓ Repetition is a deliberate device used to create emphasis, pattern, recognition or build intensity. ✗ Accumulation and canon are the same thing. ✓ Accumulation gradually adds movements to build a longer phrase; canon staggers the timing of the same phrase across dancers. ✗ Retrograde means performing a movement very slowly. ✓ Retrograde means performing the movement phrase in reverse order — the last movement becomes the first.
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how choreographic devices connects to another Dance topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of choreographic devices
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in choreographic devices?"

Plenary (5 minutes)

Assessment Criteria
  • Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
  • Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
  • Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2

Homework & Consolidation

Recommended Resources

🎓 Smart Lesson (Guided)