Note to Teacher | We recommend previewing the videos in this lesson to determine their appropriateness for your students, and perhaps substituting others as needed. Bear in mind that students may well have seen some or most of these videos before outside the classroom without an adult present.
Overview | What is a viral video? Why are music and dance such powerful, ubiquitous forces in our culture? How can viral dance videos be used for teaching and learning? In this lesson, students watch recent viral dance videos and explore their nature and role in contemporary culture. They then create their own curriculum-based dances (or live performances) to share at school and/or on the Internet.
Materials | Computer with Internet access, speaker and projector; video cameras, music clips and other materials needed by student groups to make videos (see below)
Warm-up | As students enter the classroom, play Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” Encourage students to get up and dance as they listen and watch.
