Lesson

As you learn this dance, you will demonstrate the various bond and molecular movements that are constantly happening in molecules. You will start by doing the “moves” one by one. Then, you will put all the movements together at once, just as a molecule does. Think of yourselves as water molecules: your bodies are the oxygen atoms, your arms/fists are the hydrogen atoms.

Bond Movements

1. Stretching (symmetric or asymmetric) – Stretch out your arms and contract them in, sometimes symmetrically and sometimes asymmetrically, showing how bonds stretch and contract.
2. Bending – Bend your arms up and down, side to side, diagonally, showing how bonds bend around.
3. Rotating – Twist your arms around, showing the rotation of a bond.

Molecular Movements

1. Vibration – The molecule vibrates because of the combination of all the bond movements going on within the molecule (above), so do all of the bond movements together, shaking your bodies to simulate this.
2. Rotation – Molecules rotate, so spin around to show rotation. To avoid injury, please avoid doing somersaults and cartwheels, but in reality the molecule would rotate all different ways.
3. Translation – Molecules move around, so move from one place to another in a straight line until there is a collision. When everyone is up and moving around, be careful! The collisions should be gentle and elastic!!

Put all of these moves together, and you have the Molecular Dance!