Your Done-for-You Lesson Plan for This Week: Explore Water Through Movement with The Rhythm of the Rain
- wdegroot84
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
If you’re heading into this week wondering, “What am I going to teach?”—this lesson has you covered.
Instead of piecing something together last minute, you can walk into class with a ready-to-go, engaging lesson that blends creativity, literacy, and
movement—all in one.
Inspired by The Rhythm of the Rain by Grahame Baker-Smith, this activity helps your dancers explore movement in a meaningful (and memorable) way—while saving you valuable prep time.
Start Class Strong (No Extra Prep Required)
Begin your class by gathering your students and reading The Rhythm of the Rain aloud.
That’s it—your warm-up, inspiration, and theme are all built in.
As students listen, guide them to notice the different forms of water:
Raindrops
Rivers
Waves
This simple start immediately pulls them in and sets the foundation for the entire lesson—without you needing to over-explain or demonstrate right away.
A Simple Activity That Keeps Everyone Engaged
After reading, move straight into exploration using the included water form cards and worksheet.
Each student receives two water forms to compare (for example: raindrops vs. rivers), then records what makes each one unique:
Is it fast or slow?
Smooth or sharp?
Light or powerful?
Because the structure is already created for you, students can work independently or in pairs—giving you space to guide instead of direct every step.
Turn Ideas Into Movement (Without the Guesswork)
Now comes the fun part—creating movement phrases.
Using their worksheets, students build:
The prep work is already done, so students aren’t starting from scratch—they’re translating ideas into movement.
To support them (without constant interruptions), use simple guiding prompts:
What shape does your water form make?
How does it travel through space?
What kind of energy does it have?
These questions keep students focused and creative—while you spend less time troubleshooting.
Easy Transitions = Stronger Dances
Instead of stopping at short phrases, guide students to connect their movements.
Encourage them to think about:
How one movement flows into the next
How their water forms change or evolve
This step naturally builds more polished choreography—without needing a full lecture on composition.
A Built-In Performance (That Runs Smoothly)
Wrap up class with a simple performance.
Because every student followed the same structure:
Transitions are smoother
Expectations are clear
Performances feel more confident
You’ll spend less time organizing and more time celebrating their work.
Why This Lesson Works So Well (Especially This Week)
This isn’t just a creative activity—it’s a time-saving teaching tool.
With one lesson, you can:
Walk into class fully prepared
Keep students engaged from start to finish
Hit multiple dance standards naturally
Encourage creativity without chaos
And the best part? Everything flows logically, so you’re not scrambling to fill time or redirect energy.
Wrap-Up
If you need a lesson for this week that feels fresh, structured, and meaningful—this is it.
Using The Rhythm of the Rain, you can guide your dancers through creating, performing, responding, and connecting… all while keeping your planning time to a minimum.
It’s simple. It’s effective. And it works.
Keep dancing friend,
-Whitney