​Teacher for Teacher lesson plan submitted by: 
TEAM UK
​for the Thinking Otherwise project

Key Idea

​I wanted to develop a sense of common humanity and interdependence, by introducing the idea of exploring emotions and their power to connect people, using drama as a starting point. This physical activity serves as a hook to explore how movements develop and can go viral online and offline.

Who is it for?

20 students aged 15+
The group had previous drama experience and had established a level of trust and cooperation through previous activity together.

Key Learning

• ​To be able to recognise the power of emotion and how it can be utilised creatively
• To reflect on their personal feelings and responses through dance and movement
  
• ​To consider how viral stories, challenges, campaigns, memes can explode online

What do I need?

• Space is needed to move safely such as a hall or gym
  
• Access to interactive whiteboard needed for short video clip (2:57 duration) to support plenary discussion
  
• ​First Follower: Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy - Derek Sivers (sivers.org/ff)

How long does it take?

1 x 60 minutes

Step 1 - Introduction

​Paired students A & B. Teacher calls out an emotion and student A reacts with a freeze frame shape or expression. Student B mirrors it, so both hold the freeze frame.
​Possible words to call out: joyful, sad, lonely, excited, relaxed, anxious, confused, enlightened, empowered, weak, confident, fearful​.

Step 2 - What Next?

​Students choose three of their emotion freeze frames to join together and perform.
Selected pairs describe their choices and improvised movement.

• What connections did they make?
• How were their choices sparked or inspired?
• Could the movement form part of a story or dance? 
• Could the movements of the class be joined together to form a longer or more complex story?​

​Create a whole class dance/story by calling in pairs/small groups to perform on a signal at different times/speeds.

Step 3 - Reflection and Evaluation

Debrief:

• How did it feel to participate?
• What made the dance work well/not work well?
• Is it easier to participate alone, or is it easier to be part of a larger group?  
• Why might that be?
• What are the benefits of being in a crowd/out of the crowd? 
• Is it important to feel a sense of belonging?

Watch video "Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy" 

• Is it easier to be a leader or a follower?
  
• How does a movement start?
  
• Does this idea relate to the internet? How?
  
• ​Why do some stories or movements go viral online?
  
• Are emotions involved?
  
• How quickly can a viral movement spread?
  
• Can you give examples?
  
• Who are the leaders and followers on the internet?

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