Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 7 - Theatre

AE17.TH.7.4

Examine and justify original ideas and artistic choices in a drama/theatre work based on critical analysis, background knowledge, and historical and cultural context.

Unpacked Content

Essential Questions

EU: Theatre artists work to discover different ways of communicating meaning.
EQ: How, when, and why do theatre artists' choices change?

Skills Examples

  • Use theatre as an exploration in the use of the 5 W's of improvisation (who, what, when, where, and why) through expression and group collaboration. Students will use prompts demanding personal reflection and group problem solving inspired by the influence of character, relationships, setting, and conflict. Students will discover how the 5 W's are revealed through the practice of improvisation. The students will perform a short improvisational scene.
Suggested Improv Resources:
  • Improvisation for the Theatre- Viola Spolin
  • Theatre Games for the Classroom: A Teacher's Handbook- Viola Spolin
  • Theatre Games for Rehearsal: A Director's Handbook- Viola Spolin
  • http://improvencyclopedia.org/games/
  • Teachers use concentration games to build focus. These activities are used to help children to develop a sustained focus of the mind, body and voice.
  • If it is within the group capability, teacher can introduce The Method and Stanislavski.
Suggested Concentration Games to Strengthen Young Actors:

Vocabulary

Vocal
Movement
Characterization

Skills Assessed
Exploring the Concepts:
  • Expression in improvisation and group collaboration with prompts demands personal reflection and group problem solving techniques.
  • Expression in improvisation and group collaboration with prompts demands personal reflection and group problem solving techniques.
  • Students develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills and use creative initiative in projecting and evaluating unique approaches to a specific task.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
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