Lesson: Hawaiian Dance (Hula Basic)

Grade: K-3

Subjects: Music, Language Arts, Social Studies, Physical Education & Health

Objectives:

1.     Students will be able to demonstrate a cultural and line dance by dancing “The Hukilau”.

2.     Students will be able to sing a cultural song by singing “The Hukilau” song.

3.     Students will be able to translate and define at least two Hawaiian words from the song.

4.     Students will be able to enhance their gross and fine motor skills by dancing the hula.

Materials:

1.     An Ukulele

2.     A paeru or sarong (wrap made of cloth)

3.     The Hukilau song

4.     Butcher paper

5.     Scotch tape or magnets

Vocabulary:

Hukilau – to fish with pull ropes

Huki – pull, as with a rope

Laulau – wrapped beef, pork, fish and taro tops packed in ti-leaves or banana leaves.

Kaukau – food, to eat

Luau – Hawaiian feast

Ama ama – mullet, a very choice fish

Introduction:

·        Teacher will ask and talk about the Hawaiian culture to see what they already know and what they ought to know.

·        Teacher will give a few important backgrounds about Hawaii and its culture.

Motivator:

·        Have students’ stay seated and teacher will sing/play “The Hukilau” song with an Ukulele.

Presentation of Concept:

1.     Ask what type of song do they think the song was and from what culture did it originate?

2.     Ask students why they think that is so.

3.     Explain that they will learn more about this particular dance and the meaning of the words in the song.

4.     Teacher will let students know that this dance requires more of hand movements than their feet.  In addition, that each hand movement describes what the word is in Hawaiian.

5.     Teacher will introduce the following words and its meanings provided above.  (Vocabulary)

6.     Teacher will say that there are different types of dance and this one in particular is the line dance.

7.     Then teacher will ask students how do they think a line dance looks.  (If answers are wrong, teacher will draw it on the board to show how a line dance looks).

8.     Lastly, teacher will ask them to demonstrate how a line dance looks by getting in a straight line.  Teacher will then tell students that they will now have the chance to learn the Hawaiian dance, and that they all have to participate and repeat what the teacher does after her demonstration.

Practice (Activity)

1.     Teacher will first demonstrate the song and the hula dance.

2.     Teacher will tell students to get in a line side by side and wear their sarongs (if available).

3.     Teacher will teach the steps of the hula dance as well as the words at the same time with the students.  (Without the music).

4.     Teacher will then have the students demonstrate the song and dance with the music.  (If 80% of the students do not seem ready to perform the song and dance, teacher must repeat steps 1-4).

5.     Lastly, have all the students get in their proper position and have them perform the song and dance as a whole.

TESOL Standards: 1.a, 1.b, 2.b