Teach your students first position. Tell them to put their heels together and to rotate their legs out from their hips so that their feet and toes turn out. When they bend their knees, or plié, in first position as well as in all of the following positions, their knees should be over their toes.
Instruct your students to start in first position, then to take one foot and slide it out directly to the side to make second position. Students should have their feet hip width apart with their legs and feet turned out in second position.
Ask your students to take one heel and place it at the arch of their other foot with both of their feet turned out to form third position.
Tell your students to place one foot about a foot in front of the other foot with their feet and toes pointed out to make fourth position.
Guide your students from fourth to fifth position by telling them to take the heel of one foot and place it at the big toe of the other foot, with one foot in front of the other and both legs and feet still turned out.