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

within her eyes — james cousins

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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: within her eyes — james cousins

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about within her eyes — james cousins. Then check against the key terms: key terms from within her eyes — james cousins. 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 within her eyes — james cousins.
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: within her eyes — james cousins. 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 within her eyes — james cousins

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about within her eyes — james cousins.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: within her eyes — james cousins

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on within her eyes — james cousins. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: 'Within Her Eyes' was choreographed by James Cousins and premiered in 2012
Key Fact: The work is a duet for one male and one female dancer exploring love, loss and memory
Key Fact: The choreographic intention is to show the emotional weight of a relationship — the woman is never placed on the floor, always supported
Key Fact: The stimulus was the concept of carrying emotional and physical weight within a relationship
Key Fact: Lifts are the defining movement feature — the female dancer is carried, held and supported throughout
Key Fact: The movement vocabulary includes contact work, counterbalance, sustained dynamics and intimate gestures

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: explain the key ideas of within her eyes — james cousins

Answer:

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

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

Lesson 3: Application: within her eyes — james cousins

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: key terms from within her eyes — james cousins. 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: within her eyes — james cousins

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 within her eyes — james cousins from the exam board past paper finder (see Resources), then mark it against the scheme.

Exam Tips: Always mention that the female is never placed on the floor — this is the most distinctive feature of the work | Link every movement feature to the choreographic intention of emotional weight and support | Discuss lifts specifically — describe how they work, not just that they exist | Include design elements: costume, lighting and aural setting all contribute to the intimate atmosphere | When comparing, note that this work is the only duet among the set works — intimacy is its defining quality
Common Errors: ✗ The woman is on the floor at the end of the dance. ✓ The female dancer is never placed on the floor throughout the entire work — she is always supported, which is central to the choreographic intention. ✗ 'Within Her Eyes' is a group dance. ✓ It is a duet for one male and one female dancer — the intimate two-person relationship is essential to the work's meaning. ✗ The choreographic intention is just about dancing well. ✓ The intention is to explore the emotional weight of a relationship — love, loss and memory — through the physical metaphor of support and carrying. ✗ The costume is traditional dancewear. ✓ The costume is everyday clothing — a dress for the female and trousers and shirt f
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how within her eyes — james cousins connects to another Dance topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of within her eyes — james cousins
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in within her eyes — james cousins?"

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)