Global Dance Trip

Lesson 3: A Dancing Trip Around the World

Duration

30 MIN

Objective

Students will be able to perform the basic steps of a simple folk dance (La Raspa) from Mexico, exploring patterned movement and global cultural awareness.

Materials Needed

Slides: World of Dance
Audio: La Raspa (Mexican Folk)
Musical World Map Worksheets
Stickers or Passport Stamps

Key Concepts

Folk Dance

Traditional dances from a culture.

Patterned Movement

Steps that repeat in order.

Global Awareness

Learning about people and music from other places.

Instructional Arc

5 MIN

Musical Passport Warm-up

"Board the plane!" Pretend to fly around the room to music from different countries. Every time the music stops, students "land" and strike a pose like a statue from that country.

5 MIN

Introduce Mexico & La Raspa

Show Mexico on the map slides. Introduce the song "La Raspa." Listen for the "SCRAPE" sound in the music and discuss what it might mean (like scraping a foot!).

10 MIN

Learn the Basic Steps

Teach the "Scrape, Scrape, Scrape" (foot heel-digs) and the "Clap, Clap, Clap." Break it down: Right-Left-Right, then Left-Right-Left. Practice without music first, then slow music.

7 MIN

The Grand Performance

Perform the full dance. Encourage students to find a partner for the "hooking arms" spinning part if they are ready, or just spin solo to keep it simple.

3 MIN

Passport Stamp Reflection

Color in Mexico on the Musical World Map. Ask: "What was your favorite part of the Mexican dance?" and "How did the music help you know when to clap?"

Culture Quick Fact

"La Raspa" is often called the Mexican Hat Dance. It's a joyful dance performed at parties and celebrations called fiestas.

Teaching Tip

Use the phrase "Sugar, Sugar, Tea!" for the 3-beat heel scrape rhythm. It helps Kindergarteners lock into the triplet feel.

Global Dance Trip

Global Dance Lesson Plan

World of Dance Slides

La Raspa Dance Steps Activity

Musical World Map Activity