It’s hard to find ways to get kids out of their seats that require very little prep. As I was preparing for my middle school lesson on the Renaissance (we covered the basics already, now I’m elaborating), I found these Renaissance dances. I thought this was a great way to show students Renaissance dress, dance, and music!
I’m going to have the students watch the first video below. I’ll point out the dress and music towards the end of the video. Then we are going to try the second video! It seems like a pretty easy dance. We’ll watch it as a class and then try it with the video. I’m sure it will be somewhat of a mess, and of course, you’ll always have those kids that say, “This is stupid.” But, don’t let that stop you from doing something different and out of the box!!!
Also, you NEED to dance along. If you won’t try it, why should your students? Set a good example, swallow your pride, and have some fun! It’s just jumping!
If students wonder why they don’t use their arms much, from what I have read it is usually due to clothing restrictions and space. Also, limited, controlled movements were preferred by the wealthy as they conveyed refinement.
Here’s the dance to try as a group. Very easy!
If you can’t fit the dancing in but still want some quick culture, play this Renaissance music while they are working on a bell ringer or packing up.
