What’s included in this resource

Title: AQA GCSE Dance: Master the “Shift” Set Phrase – Complete Unit for Year 10/11

Duration: 4 – 5 weeks
Key Stage/Grade/Level/Year: Year 10, Age 15-16, Key Stage 4 (Originally designed for Year 10), AQA GCSE Dance

Introduction: Prepare your Year 10/11 GCSE Dance students for success with this comprehensive “shift” set phrase unit. Over 4-5 weeks, students will not only master the choreography, technique, and expressive elements of this set phrase, but also develop the critical skills needed to articulate their understanding of their own performance, essential for the 6-mark questions in Section B of the written exam.

Unit Overview: This comprehensive 4-5 week unit empowers students to master the AQA GCSE Dance “shift” set phrase, building confidence and technical skill for their solo performance.

Lesson Structure: Each lesson guides students through a structured learning process:

1. Do-It-Now: Engaging activities revise performance skills (physical, technical, expressive, mental) and their importance.
2. Warm-Up & Movement Breakdowns: Teacher-led videos demonstrate “shift”-specific exercises, movement breakdowns with imagery, and dynamic cues.
3. Counting/Clapping Grids & Key Images: Visual aids facilitate independent rehearsal and systematic repetition.
4. Peer Assessment: Tick sheets assess accuracy and expressive skills, fostering self-awareness and constructive feedback.

Resources Included:

• Detailed Lesson Plans: Step-by-step guidance for each lesson, including modifications for different learning styles and abilities.
• Engaging Lesson Presentations: Visually stimulating slides to enhance learning and retention.
• Student Practical Journal: A space for reflection, goal-setting, and documenting understanding of performance skills.
• Teacher-Led Videos: Demonstrations of warm-up exercises, movement breakdowns, and dynamic cues for the “shift” phrase.
• Counting/Clapping Grids & Key Images: Visual aids to support independent practice and accurate execution of the phrase.
• Peer Assessment Tick Sheets: Structured tools to provide feedback on accuracy and expressive skills.

Benefits:

• Confidently perform the “shift” set phrase: Students develop the physical, technical, expressive, and mental skills needed for a successful solo.
• Understand and apply performance skills: Learn to analyze their own work and articulate their understanding of performance skills, crucial for Section B of the written exam.
• Enhance overall dance ability: Improve coordination, flexibility, strength, and stamina through targeted warm-up exercises and movement practice.
• Cultivate self-awareness and critical thinking: Through peer assessment and self-reflection, students develop valuable skills for lifelong learning.

Give your students the ultimate toolkit for mastering the “shift” set phrase and excelling in their AQA GCSE Dance exam.

Download formats

Our files come in 2 different sets of formats.

You will receive a zip file for Microsoft Office files (MS Word and MS Powerpoint). Please note that the Google Form quizzes are incompatible with Microsoft related products.

You will also receive a link to a shared google drive folder which will allow you to copy files to your own google drive folder allowing you to assign these using the Google Classroom. Full instructions on these are included within the download links.