Grade 11
Lesson topic: Multiculturalism
Overall Objective: Students will
be able to practice pre-reading, while reading and post reading skills while
reading a text on dances in three countries: Poland, India and Armenia.
Language
Objective: Students will
be able to learn new vocabulary about dances, answer the questions and do the
exercises before and after reading the text
Civic
Education Objective: Students will be able to learn different countries’
dances and demonstrate them during the lesson
Class Context
and Needs: 11 students
Materials: pens, text,
computer, speaker, handouts
Activities: warm-up,
pair-work, group work, speaking, reading, writing, listening, fill in the gaps,
true false exercise, answer the questions, vocabulary
Stage of lesson
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Activity
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Time
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Warm up
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Teacher
introduces the topic and new vocabulary. Teacher explains that dance is
expression of a country’s culture. Teacher gives each pair pre-reading
activity: fill in the gaps using the words below, one word is extra. The
sentences are given from the text. Students don’t know the sentences, they guess.
Pair of students report out answers in turn and the teacher checks right
answers. Handout 1
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5 min
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Activity 1
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Teacher
divides the class into 3 groups and gives them the text about three country’s
different dances. (Polish, Indian and Armenian) Each country has five or six
dances. Students begin to read the text. The text has vocabulary with new words.
Each student reads about 2 dances as the text is long because each country
has more than two dances. Handout 2
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15 min
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Activity 2
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After reading students
do post reading exercises; do true false exercises and correct the false
sentences. Then the students read their answers and the teacher checks. After
that the students answer the questions filling out the chart. Handout
3
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10 min
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Activity 3
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After doing
all exercises students answer some questions from the text. They discuss
different dances, costumes that they have learnt from the text as the dances
are the main part of each country’s culture.
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5 min
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Activity 4
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Students
demonstrate what they have learnt. They performed different countries’
dances; Armenian, Georgian, Russian, American, Spanish, Irish, Indian.
Students learnt dances in advance from the Internet watching the videos on
You Tube. They learnt a lot about these dances as they are the part of each
country’s culture.
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15 min
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Handout 1
Pre-reading
activity
Fill in the
gaps using the words below. One word is extra.
1. The
___________________of Kraków is the one that is most identified with Poland.
2. The Mazur is a _________________dance
in which pairs glide across the floor.
3. As with other aspects of
Indian culture, different forms of dances originated in different parts
of________________________, developed according to the local traditions and
also imbibed elements from other parts of the country.
4. The Odissi dance form is
known for its ________________________, the independent movement of head, chest
and pelvis.
5. Yarkhushta associated with the highlands of the
historical region of _____________________in Western Armenia.
6. Each region in the
Armenian Highlands had its own_____________________, with its unique way of
both dancing and music.
Handout 2
Dance in
Poland
Polish folk dance is a tradition rooted in many centuries of Polish
culture. Many of the dances stem from traditions or historical events, but also
include ballroom and ballet style elements. Polish dances tend to be lively, energetic, and joyful. Hops,
twirls, and athletic movements are common. Many dances involve a circle but
also partners. Polish costumes are a wide variety depending on each region;
there is no "one" polish costume. Common elements in Polish costumes
feature coral necklaces for the women, and hats and capes for the men.
Traditionally, a married woman wears a headscarf and unmarried girls wear
flowers in their hair.
The
Polish national dances are the Krakowiak, Kujawiak, Mazurek, Oberek, and
Polonaise.
Krakowiak
Kujawiak
The
music is in triple meter and fairly slow. The dance usually involves couples
walking gracefully in a quarter-note rhythm, on slightly bended knees, with
relaxed turns and gently swaying It is a beautiful romantic dance.
Mazurek
The
Mazur is a faster dance in which pairs glide across the floor. The dancers move
with grace and speed. With its quick 3/4 tempo…accented on the 2nd or 3rd beat,
and intricate steps…heel clicking, slides, and running steps.
Mazur danced in different ways to different types of music. The Mazur
also found its way into operas.
Oberek
The Oberek came from the Mazowsze region of Poland. Its name comes from
the Polish verb ‘obracac sie’ which means “to spin”. It is the fastest of the
Polish Folk Dances. Obereks were very lively
dance with turns and twirls and difficult to dance and its rhythm mostly
remained a polish treasure. It is danced by couples who are placed on a circle and rotate both
around the whole circle and around their own axis (to the right). Their steps
have to be light and flexible – they make dragging movements with their feet.
With its quick tempo, 3/4 timing it soon became popular in almost all of the
regions of Poland. The Folk costumes from many regions of Poland are associated
with the Oberek, though the costume is favored by many dance troupes.
Polonaise
The polonaise
is a dance of Polish origin. Its name is French for
"Polish." The
Polonez may be danced wearing a folk costume from any of Poland’s ethnographic
regions. Danced to a slow 3/4 tempo, the partners do not face each other, but
rather walk to the music around the ballroom… forward, back, side, often
bowing, but always maintaining a formal, stately posture.Dancing the polonaise
requires a straight, upright posture with no hip movements, smooth and elegant
hand gestures, and the head held high, with pride. The dancers walk around the
dance floor. It was danced even by royalty and nobility. Polonaise is a
widespread dance in carnival parties.
Dance in
India
Dance in India comprises the varied styles of dances in the country. As
with other aspects of Indian culture, different forms of dances originated in
different parts of India, developed according to the local traditions and also
imbibed elements from other parts of the country. Folk dances are numerous in number and style, and vary according to the
local tradition of the respective state, ethnic or geographic regions.
Contemporary dances include refined and experimental fusions of classical, folk
and Western forms.
These are Indian popular dances:
Bharatanatyam
– Tamil Nadu
Bharata Natyam is considered to the oldest form
of dance and mother of all other style of classical dance in India. The
classical Indian dance Bharatanatyam originated from the art of temple dancers
in the South India state of Tamil Nadu. Bharatanatyam is reworked form of dance
from the traditional sadir and combination of expression, music, beat and
dance. Bharatanatyam or the fire dance is one of the most popular styles of
dance performed by male and female dancers.
Kathak –
Uttar Pradesh
Kuchipudi –
Andhra Pradesh
Odissi –
Orissa
Odissi is the oldest surviving dance form in India, originates from
state of Orissa. The Odissi dance form is known for its style, the independent
movement of head, chest and pelvis. Beautiful Odissi Dance is traditional and
ancient style of dance performed in the temples.
Mohiniyattam
– Kerala
Dance in
Armenia
The Armenian dance has been considered one of the oldest and most varied
in its respective region. From the fifth to the third millennia B.C., in the
higher regions of Armenia, the land of Ararat, there are rock paintings of
scenes of country dancing. These dances were probably accompanied by certain
kinds of songs or musical instruments. All
dancers wear the traditional costume to embody the history of their culture and
tell their stories. The design of these costumes is influenced by many factors,
such as religious traditions, family methods, and practicality. The traditional
coloring and exquisite beading of the costumes ties the dance and the tradition
together. The beautiful movements of the Armenian cultural dance are adored by
all audience around the world.
These are Armenian popular dances:
Kochari (Քոչարի) - Kochari is one of the most popular dances of
Armenians. Kochari is danced in a group of men and women and is known for its
tune played on the zurna. Kochari is a type of dance, not a specific dance.
Each region in the Armenian Highlands had its own Kochari, with its unique way
of both dancing and music.
Shalakho (Շալախօ) -
A dance for men from Ancient Armenia. It is performed in dance studios by men,
but danced at public gatherings by women as well.
Yarkhushta (Յարխուշտա) - Yarkhushta is a martial dance from the Taron
and Aghdznik regions of Western Armenia. Yarkhushta associated with the highlands of the
historical region of Sassoun in Western Armenia. Yarkhushta belongs to a wider
category of Armenian "clap dances" (ծափ-պարեր). The dance is performed by men, who face each
other in pairs. The key element of the dance is a forward movement when
participants rapidly approach one another and vigorously clap onto the palms of
hands of dancers in the opposite row.
Berd (Բերդապար) -
Berd (Fortress) is an Armenian dance which roots are from the old Armenian
Vaspurakan city. Berd is a dance famous for having a circle of men stand on the
shoulders of another circle and rotate. Berd means "fortress" in
Armenian and is named accordingly because of the shape the dancers make. During
the dance dancers wear only Armenian dress "Taraz". The main part of
the dance is to make a fortress, which is a 2-Storey wall.
Menapar (Մենապար) -
Menapar translates to "solo." It may feature a man or woman.
Normally, if a man is the one dancing, the music will be fast-paced and in the
case of a woman, a slower, more elegant music will play.
Handout 3
Post-reading
activities
1. Read the statements and mark them T (true) or F (false). Rewrite the
false statements to make them true.
______ 1. Indian costumes are a wide variety depending on each region.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
______ 2. The dance is performed by women, who face each other in pairs
and they vigorously clap onto the palms of hands of dancers in the opposite
row.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______ 3. Oberek is a nice romantic dance.
______ 4. Kochari Dance is traditional and ancient style of dance
performed in the temples.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____ 5. Mazurek the partners do not face each other, but rather walk to
the music around the floor.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______6. The classical Indian
dance Odissi originated from the art of temple dancers in the South India state
of Tamil Nadu.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____ 7. All dancers wear the traditional costume to embody the history
of their culture and tell their stories.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______ 8. Kuchipudi is the most popular traditional dance form in South
India performed with violin, guitar and the accordion instruments.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Use the chart for group work, first. Then ask
each group to report their answers.
Poland
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India
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Armenia
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Which country has shuffling, running and heel
clicking in dances?
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Do these three countries have national costumes?
Write at least 2 or 3 costumes that represent the country or dance.
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In which country’s dances are for men, women or
both? Give examples.
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Describe the general features of each country’s
dance
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