Build confidence, capability, and creativity in your classroom through dance.
Developed in partnership with the Department of Education, the Dance Guidance for Primary Schools resource is designed to support Victorian teachers and school leaders in establishing curriculum-aligned, inclusive, and high-quality dance programs across Foundation to Level 6.
Whether you’re a generalist teacher new to teaching dance or a performing arts specialist looking to strengthen your planning, this resource offers clear, practical guidance to help you bring the benefits of dance to every student.
Why dance?
Dance isn’t just movement—it’s a powerful tool for student engagement, expression, and learning. Research shows that dance builds confidence, fosters creativity, strengthens peer relationships, and supports wellbeing. By embedding dance into your teaching program, you’re helping students develop essential life skills in a fun and purposeful way.
What’s included in the resource
The Dance Guidance for Primary Schools offers comprehensive, easy-to-follow support to help you teach dance with confidence and clarity. Key features include:
- 12 ready-to-use lesson plans (Foundation to Level 6) fully aligned with the Victorian Curriculum F–10 v2.0 and the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0).
- Curriculum planning tools, including a whole-school dance program outline and term planner to support long-term planning.
- Guidance for setting up your space and tips for creating a safe, inclusive, and effective environment for movement, even without a dedicated dance space.
- Teaching strategies across all curriculum strands with practical ideas for exploring, developing, creating, and presenting dance.
- Assessment advice and culturally responsive pedagogy, including strategies for formative and summative assessment, and guidance on embedding First Nations and multicultural perspectives in dance education.
- Integration of Activate! F–6 dance cards into the lesson plans, providing engaging, easy-to-deliver classroom activities.
This resource offers flexibility. Whether you’re running a standalone dance program, integrating movement across the arts, or delivering dance as part of general classroom learning, Dance Guidance for Primary Schools provides the structure and support to make it work for you and your students.
Download the resource
The full resource—including lesson plans and planning templates—is available as a free download from the Department of Education website.
All Victorian government primary schools will receive printed Activate! dance cards to complement the digital guidance. Other schools may access the Activate! resource library on our website and download a printable version of the cards.