Plants Alive!

I have been working with Year 3, Mrs Ripley, Mrs Right and Joe on exploring plants through movement.

Year 3 are excellent, energetic dancers and very creative too, so we have been able to try out lots of ideas linked to plants.

First of all, we thought about what plants need in order to grow. We talked about plants needing four basic things: sunlight, water, air and soil. Then we explored making movements to show these four elements. In order to choreograph some movements (deciding what particular movements to do and in what order) everyone worked in duets (two people), and created their own version of sun, water, air and soil.

We came up with some more words and actions linked to our plants’ needs such as: digging, spreading, sprinkling, arcing, rays, sunrise, hurricane, spin, wriggle and cycle. Then the class worked in four teams, we have the ‘Sunshine girls’, the ‘Hurricaners’, the ‘Water people’ and the ‘Soil gremlins’. Each team made a photo with their bodies to show their element, then they animated the photo for a few seconds (like a Harry Potter picture), then they became still again.

When we put together all the duets and groups we realised we had a five minute dance! It will need some rehearsing and most especially some sound to go with it so that it can be shown at the Sharing day in June. – I haven’t heard any of the sounds that the group recorded with Joe yet, so I am looking forward to hearing what noises they have found and made together.



But that is not the end of our plant discoveries… We have also explored the structure of plants. We have looked at roots, stems and leaves. I set the class some challenges: they had to build a root system in the hall using only their bodies; then they had to do their best impression of one long stem stretching all the way across the hall; then they had to try and be leaves scattered across the floor.

We talked about the function of the roots and also the function of the stem and leaves. And I challenge someone from Year 3 to write a blog and explain what xylem and phloem are… and what different types of roots there are… and what different structures of leaves there are!

We explored and choreographed some movements based mostly on the stem. The class worked in trios (three people) and explored ideas to do with pulling and transporting, (because part of the stem’s function is to transport water and nutrients around a plant and it does this with a sucking/pulling action). So everyone in Year 3 has now pulled or been pulled, carried or been carried all the way across your school hall.

Mrs Ripley and I decided that this should be a separate dance from the Sun, Air, Water, Soil dance so we now have a Roots, Stem and Leaves dance too. It is comprised of lots of pulling/carrying trios, a root system, a stem and lots of leaves… Oh and lots of beanbags, but I’ll let someone from Year 3 explain what they are all about.

Of course, Joe now has a double challenge as he has to come up with a sound score for two dance pieces. And Year 3 have got the challenge of rehearsing two dances to perform to everyone in June.

We are missing titles for both dances – Year 3, if you have any good ideas, let me know! Oh, and do look at the photos that were taken and add some to the blog too…

Amanda (Choreographer)