We are already in week four of the preschool hip hop syllabus! At this point, the students are well into building their rhythm and hip hop technique through bounces, grapevines, snakes, and the other skills introduced thus far.
Now that we have the basics under our belt, it’s time to really challenge the kids with 3 step turns! This is probably the most difficult move they will learn all year – It can be really confusing for some students, so take your time and do not rush the process.
Important: Before doing this lesson plan, make sure students have mastered the grapevines on both right and left sides (or at least feel very comfortable with it).
Teaching 3 Step Turns
As I always do when introducing a new skill, I have the entire class stand on their dot in center, facing the mirror. Keeping their hands on their hips, I explain that a 3 step turn is very similar to a grapevine, a skill they have mastered already. We turn around with 3 steps (shocking!), then clap!
The difficult part about explaining this step is you cannot rely on referencing right and left sides, since the kids don’t understand that concept yet. So I will use things in the room like “the foot closest to the speaker,” but when all else fails, I will literally put both hands on the leg I want to move so the class gets the correct foot.
The other hard part is making sure they are all turning the same way! I have them turn towards the front, but really you can turn either way in a 3 step turn. Since they are preschoolers, I recommend choosing one way, either turning towards the front or back, and sticking to that all year long. Introducing turning the other way will likely just cause confusion, and if you plan to put this in a recital dance you want everyone turning the same direction!
Always start by doing a visual demonstration. Then, you will break down each of the 3 steps, just like we did with the grapevines:
- Start with feet together on the dot, keep hands glued to your hips.
- Step 1 is OUT – Step one foot off the dot
- Step 2 is TURN – Take your foot that’s still on the dot and “kick” the mirror/front of the room, turning you around to the back
- Step 3 is TURN – Now they are facing the back, with their feet apart. Take your foot closest to your dot and kick behind you, towards the mirror/front of the room
- Then you CLAP and JUMP together.
Repeat the right side several times before introducing the left side.
Fun fact: I always play the instrumental-only version of “Still Dre” by Dr Dre when doing 3 step turns … trust me when I say it is the perfect tempo for this.
| Activity | Description | Notes |
| Attendance/Question | What is your favorite thing about dancing? | |
| Cardio Warm Up | Jumping jacks | Choose a high energy song to get the dancers excited for class |
| High knees | ||
| Criss-Cross Jumps | ||
| Dance Warm Up | Pat knees to the beat of the song | Purpose: get in the groove of dancing mentally and physically! Starting class with rhythm-work is a great exercise to get their minds working. |
| Once the class finds the rhythm, switch to step claps (4 eights) | ||
| Hip shakes (2 eights) | ||
| Snakes (4 eights) | ||
| Bouncing (emphasis on the chest) (4 eights) | ||
| Grapevines (4 eights) | ||
| Top Rocks | Introduce skill w/ hands on hips. Practice cross one foot over and tapping with your heel | Use dot as “home base.” So you cross and tap, then return to home base |
| 4 slow/half time, then try 4 quick/double time | ||
| Add in arms | ||
| 3 Step Turns | Put 3 dots on the floor, close together (these are for each step in the turn) | These can be challenging for toddlers! Go slow, be patient. |
| Break down the skill – See breakdown explanation in lesson description above. | ||
| Repeat several times slowly on one side. Can have the kids line up and try it using the 3 dots laid out. Bonus: try the left side if they are ready! If not, wait another week. | ||
| Strut Walk | Lay out 1 dot at the end of the room and have students line up on other end | Encourage them to shake their hips, find the rhythm of the song, and overall deliver some style and confidence as they go across the floor |
| Students will “strut” to the dot and strike 3 poses | ||
| Strut back to the line | ||
| Can repeat with students “strutting” sideways or backwards instead | ||
| Grapevines (Across The Floor) | Half time all the way down the floor | Make sure students are crossing behind |
| Double time all the way down the floor | ||
| Repeat on left side. | ||
| 3 Step Turns (Across The Floor) | Half time all the way down the floor | Tip:Tell students to turn “towards” the mirror |
| Repeat on left side. | ||
| Fun Activity: Structured Improv | Choose an adjective and have the kids structure their improv around it. | Use accessible adjectives for preschoolers |
| Examples: sharp, smooth, fast, slow, party, etc. | ||
| Every 30-45 sec, pause the song and choose a new word |
