Motivating boys through music and dance

Summary

This junior school wanted to motivate a group of underachieving year 5 boys through an integrated dance and music project. The boys used the school's new music technology suite to create music for their own dance routines. A direct link was made between the dance and music sessions, which enabled work to be consolidated and reinforced in both subjects. The project culminated in a final performance to an audience invited by the boys.

As a result of the enthusiasm generated by the project, the boys became much more motivated in their work across the curriculum. Through working as a team on a highly valued project, many of the boys developed new social skills and formed better relationships with both peers and adults. They also became much more confident -- two of the group even led the rest of the school in some dance moves at an end-of-term disco. The boys now have greater skills and knowledge of the arts and several of them are hoping to pursue dance and music at school and in the community.