Here is a lesson plan that I would use to teach a beginner jazz dance class for 6 to 8-year-old dancers. This lesson plan is intended to be used after lesson plan #1, once the students have been working on the basics of pirouettes and battements for a few weeks.
This lesson focuses on pirouettes, standing leaps, battements, and center floor stretches.
| Class Segment | Skill/Position | Activity Description | Teacher notes |
| Stretch/Warm-up | Cardio warmup | Jumping jacks 4 x 8 counts | Use an upbeat and energetic song to get the class excited to dance! |
| Run in place 4 x 8 counts | |||
| High knees 2 x 8 counts | |||
| Stretch | Butterfly, stretch forward 2×8 counts | ||
| Straddle, reach right left and center 2×8 counts each | |||
| Pike stretch, pointing and flex toes | |||
| Alternate pointing and flexing one foot at a time, roll ankle in circle one at time | |||
| Cobra stretch, stretch feet towards head | |||
| stretch wrists/shoulders | |||
| Leg extensions on the floor | Starting in butterfly, grab the inside of your right foot | Make sure they dont lift their hips off the ground | |
| Extend to the side, hold for 8 counts | |||
| Repeat with left side | |||
| Repeat with both legs | |||
| Battements | Degages (Battement prep exercise) | Degages to the front/devant (alternating right and left legs) | Watch for lifted hips and bent supporting legs. This is a prep excersize to prepare for full battements |
| Degage to the side/second (alternating right and left leg) | |||
| Degage to the back (alternating right and left legs) | |||
| Battements (90 degrees) | To the front (alternating right and left legs) | Watch for lifted hips and bent supporting legs | |
| To the side (alternating right and left legs) | |||
| Turns | Pirouette prep *using the barre* | (keep both hands on the barre for balance) | working on the pattern of tendu>plie>passe. Can add releves once ready! |
| Tendu to the side, plie in 4th | |||
| Press up to passe | |||
| Try to let go of the barre once you have your balance! | |||
| Pivot Turns | Right and left sides, hands on hips | ||
| Chaine turns | Keeping arms in first, spotting to the side | Working on spotting! | |
| Leaps | Chasses | Facing the mirror, tendu to the side and “chase” your front leg | Keep hands on hips at first. Then add in arms in 1st |
| Facing the side of the room tendu to the front and “chase” your front leg | |||
| Standing leaps | Jumping from 2 legs (landing on the floor is optional) | Start with standing leaps before doing chasse step leaps and other combos. This will help them nail the legs, feet, and upper body of the leap before adding in extra steps | |
| Leaps across the floor | lay out 4 dots across the floor | Looking for straight back legs, and understanding the movement of the leap | |
| Have students jazz walk to each dot | |||
| Degage and leap over each dot |
Lesson Leap 
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