Highland Dance with Ewan the Unicorn
Special Guest
Georgina Andrew
Join Ewan the Unicorn as he explores the world of Highland Dance with a real Scottish dancer in this fun two-part video series! Kids will learn a basic toe/heel step, discover the story behind the Seann Triubhas dance, and find out how dance can express history, culture, and joy. Perfect for combining movement with meaningful classroom connections.
Download the Activity Pack!
Activities for this Episode
Each downloadable activity sheet was designed to reinforce the video content while encouraging creativity, movement, and reflection.
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Toe/Heel Step Guide: Practice the move from the video, trace your steps, and label parts of the foot.
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Mascot Maker: Choose or create a Highland Dance mascot and invent a fun superpower.
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Dance Tells a Story: Draw and write about a dance that tells a story—from stormy adventures to birthday celebrations!
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Dance Diary: Reflect on a silly or magical dance memory—real or imagined.
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Seann Triubhas Coloring & History Page: Learn why this famous dance tells a story of freedom, and color a joyful kick.
The Scottish Kilt with Scotland Shop
What We're Learning Today
In this video series, students meet a real Scottish Highland dancer and Ewan the Unicorn as they explore how dance can be fun, expressive, and deeply rooted in cultural history. We learn:
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The basic toe/heel step from Highland Dance.
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The history and meaning behind the dance Seann Triubhas, which tells the story of reclaiming the right to wear kilts.
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How traditional Scottish dance is more than just movement—it’s storytelling, symbolism, and celebration.
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That dancing can build friendships, spark joy, and keep traditions alive across generations.
In The Classroom
Discussion Questions for the Classroom
Use the videos and activities to guide rich, thoughtful discussions:
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Why do cultures pass down traditional dances?
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What kind of stories can movement tell that words can’t?
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What does Seann Triubhas teach us about identity and resilience?
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How can something fun (like dancing!) also be meaningful?
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How do symbols—like kilts, mascots, and movements—help communities stay connected?
Curriculum Connection
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Social Studies & History: Explore Scottish heritage, rebellion, and tradition through dance.
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Visual & Performing Arts: Understand storytelling through movement, rhythm, and costume.
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English Language Arts: Practice descriptive language, personal narrative, and reflection.
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Health & PE: Build coordination, balance, and expressive physical activity.
Extension Ideas
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Try Your Own Ceilidh: Put on fun music and have a mini dance party in class, mixing traditional steps with modern ones.
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Dance Around the World Day: Compare Scottish Highland dancing with hula, flamenco, or African storytelling dances.
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Create a Class Dance Storybook: Each student contributes a “dance page” based on the worksheet prompts, forming a group book.
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Invite a Local Dancer: If possible, bring in a Highland or folk dancer for a live demo or Q&A session.
More From This Series:
Scotland In Our Backyard is a video series celebrating Scottish heritage in North Carolina — created by the Scottish Cultural Outreach Foundation with support from NC Humanities.
Explore the full series on YouTube
This program is supported in part by North Carolina Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, www.nchumanities.org.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this video do not necessarily represent those of North Carolina Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
