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Design, it’s not just for Art class anymore! A way to help your drama students understand abstract concepts is to let them take them for a test drive. In this very basic exercise, students explore the design elements of line and shape using only a pencil and a sheet of paper.

It takes practice for students to get used to the idea of working together, crafting ideas together, and learning how to negotiate. In a collaboration everyone comes to the table equally, and that means there is a process of give and take. Use this exercise to have your students practice negotiating instead of following one or two leaders.

The final project for this unit is a simple one-person pantomime. The objective is for them to utilize mime, body language, and facial expression to tell a basic story (an activity that has an obstacle that they overcome or get past).

To apply knowledge through performance.

To apply knowledge toward a pantomime performance.

To apply feedback and make revisions.

Students will create a simple pantomime story and prepare a pantomime for performance.

Students begin their exploration of scene design by defining the role of the scenic designer, learning what kind of sets shows can have, and applying their knowledge with a practical exercise.

This hyperdoc unit is designed for students to work through at their own pace. There are five levels that students work through independently: Level 1: The Introduction. Level 2: Dream Room Project. Level 3: Become a Design Expert - students learn more about colour theory, design elements such as line and shape, types of set design, and set pieces most often used in set design. Level 4: A Set Designer License Test which applies everything students have gone through thus far. Level 5: The culminating project which has students designing a set for a song, book or play.

Students analyze, rehearse, and perform Shakespearean scenes using the concepts introduced over the course of the unit.

Students will participate in a demonstration to explore the rules of staging and performance and why they are important. They will perform a Bad Idea/Good Idea skit for the class, to demonstrate their understanding of the concept.

Students will play a drama game and participate in an exercise to explore how conflict affects their active tactics. Students apply conflict to a scene for performance.

Students review what they have studied in this unit as well as how to give and use constructive feedback. Students will pair up with another scene group, then perform for each other. Students will use the Preview Worksheet to help guide and assess their previews and critiques.

Students will participate in an observation activity and play “What Are You Doing?” to explore how stage business affects performance. In this lesson, you will coach students through a scene with stage business, then they will apply stage business to their own performances.

Have students create a situation from a picture and examine the given clues to help fill in the gaps. Next, have students examine the clues in a contentless scene, then fill in the gaps to create their own scenario to perform.

Students will be able to identify the parts of an Ancient Greek Stage and explain the function of each element.

Students will be able to use their knowledge of Greek theatre to predict matching definitions and terms.

Students will be able to complete a formal assessment of their knowledge of Ancient Greek Theatre.

Students will be able to design and build a Greek Theatre mask in the traditional style for a character in Agatha Rex.

Students will be able to design and build a Greek Theatre mask in the traditional style for a character in Agatha Rex. Students will be able to design and build a skene backdrop.