PD Course
Approaching Drama Class with an Indigenous Perspective
Created by Allison Green
This course is led by Allison Green, a member of the Algonquin Band of Mattawa, and a drama and social sciences teacher in Northern Ontario, Canada. She believes that drama teachers should look at their teaching through an Indigenous lens for a few reasons:
- It is time in North America to take a conscientious look at Indigenous people’s approach to learning and teaching.
- For our Indigenous students, it’s important to see themselves in materials, activities, and classroom routines.
- It is also valuable for our non-Indigenous students to see and better understand the diverse nature of the creative process and ways of seeing our world through this lens.
This course aims to help teachers see their drama class through an Indigenous lens - by exploring the learning circle, culturally responsive approaches, and Indigenous pedagogy.
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0Lesson 0Introduction4:02 FREE PREVIEWThe introductory module lays out the objectives for the course, and explains the structure and lessons to follow.
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1Lesson 1The Learning Circle10:19 FREE PREVIEWThis module explores the learning circle. The circle is a sacred symbol in Indigenous culture, and many drama classes benefit from students and their teachers being part of a circle.
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2Lesson 2ACulturally Relevant & Responsive Teaching11:19 LockedThis module shares a culturally responsive approach to teaching while really unpacking the difference between appropriation and appreciation. In drama class, we need to be aware and model for our students the act of appreciating and exploring diversity and culture with activities rooted in knowledge and avoid appropriation.
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2Lesson 2BAppreciation Versus Appropriation17:46 LockedThis module continues the discussion regarding a culturally responsive approach to teaching.
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3Lesson 3Drama Teachers and Indigenous Pedagogy10:12 LockedThis module focuses on drama teachers and Indigenous pedagogy.
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4Lesson 4Wrap Up3:40 LockedThis module wraps up the course material, and looks at next steps to take with your students, or for your own learning.
Standards Addressed
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 6
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 7
Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art - Grade 7
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - High School Proficient
Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art - Grade HS Proficient
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - High School Accomplished
Perceive and analyze artistic work - Grade HS Advanced
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work - Grade 6
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work - Grade 7
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Accomplished
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work - Grade HS Advanced
6.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
7.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
7.TH:Cn10 Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
Prof.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
Prof.TH:Cn10 Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
Acc.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Adv.TH:Re7 Perceive and analyze artistic work.
6.TH:Re8 Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
7.TH:Re8 Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
Prof.TH:Re8 Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
Acc.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Adv.TH:Re8 Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
Sixth Grade
Seventh Grade
- DT.7.1.1.c Students Can: Envision and describe a scripted or improvised character's inner thoughts and objectives in a drama/theater work.
- DT.7.1.3.a Students Can: Consider incorporating multiple perspectives and diverse community ideas in a drama/theatre work.
- DT.7.3.2.b Students Can: Describe how cultural perspectives can influence the evaluation of drama/theatre work.
High School - Fundamental Pathway
High School - Advanced Pathway
- DT.H2.1.1.a Students Can: Investigate historical and cultural conventions and their impact on the visual composition of a drama/theatre work.
- DT.H2.1.2.a Students Can: Refine a dramatic concept to demonstrate a critical understanding of historical and cultural influences of original ideas applied to a drama/theatre work.
- DT.H2.1.2.b Students Can: Cooperate as a creative team to make interpretive choices for a drama/theatre work.
- DT.H2.3.1.a Students Can: Respond to what is seen, felt, and heard in a drama/theatre work to critique artistic choices and justify meaningful feedback based on historical, cultural, and personal context.
High School - Professional Pathway
Language
Critical Thinking & Reflection
- TH.68.C.1.2 Develop a character analysis to support artistic portrayal.
- TH.912.C.1.5 Make and defend conscious choices in the creation of a character that will fulfill anticipated audience response.
- TH.912.C.1.6 Respond to theatrical works by identifying and interpreting influences of historical, social, or cultural contexts.
Historical & Global Connections
- TH.912.H.1.3 Present a design or perform in the style of a different historical or cultural context to gain appreciation of that time and culture.
- TH.912.H.1.4 Interpret a text through different social, cultural, and historical lenses to consider how perspective and context shape a work and its characters.
- TH.912.H.2.5 Apply knowledge of dramatic genres and historical periods to shape the work of performers, directors, and designers.
Innovation, Technology & the Future
Skills, Techniques & Processes
- TH.68.S.1.2 Invent a character with distinct behavior(s) based on observations of people in the real world and interact with others in a cast as the invented characters.
- TH.68.S.3.1 Develop characterizations, using basic acting skills, appropriate for selected dramatizations.
- TH.912.S.1.8 Use research to extract clues in dramatic texts to create performances or technical elements, choosing those that are most interesting and that best convey dramatic intent.
Grades 9-12 - ACTING LEVELS I-IV - Creating
- TAHSA.CR.1 Organize, design, and refine theatrical work.<br/>a. Use script analysis in the development and presentation of formal and informal theatre performances.<br/>b. Examine various theories of dramatic structure.<br/>c. Engage in and apply meaningful cultural, literary, and historical research to create acting choices or directorial concepts.
- TAHSA.CR.2 Develop scripts through theatrical techniques.<br/>a. Examine theatre practices regarding the development, structure, layout, and format of scripts.<br/>b. Use improvisation, personal experiences, heritage, imagination, literature, and history to develop scripts.<br/>c. Perform formal and informal monologues and scenes based on published and original scripts.
Grades 9-12 - ACTING LEVELS I-IV - Connecting
Grades 9-12 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Creating
Grades 9-12 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Connecting
Grades 9-12 - MUSICAL THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Creating
Grades 9-12 - THEATRE HISTORY AND LITERATURE I AND II - Creating
Grades 9-12 - THEATRE HISTORY AND LITERATURE I AND II - Performing
Sixth Grade Create
Seventh Grade Create
Seventh Grade Respond
Intermediate High School Create
Accomplished High School Create
Advanced High School Connect
Advanced High School Respond
- AD.RE.1.1 Analyze aesthetics in various settings, production situations, time periods, or audiences in written and presented theatrical works.
- AD.RE.1.2 Evaluate the impact of theatrical works on intended audiences.
- AD.RE.2.1 Justify personal preferences for theatrical elements acknowledging the influence of history, society, culture, and professional theatre.
Advanced High School Standards - Culture
MS 117.211 LI - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
MS 117.211 LI - Creative Expression: performance
MS 117.212 LII - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.315 LI - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
HS 117.315 LI - Historical and cultural relevance
HS 117.316 LII - Creative Expression: production
HS 117.316 LII - Historical and cultural relevance
HS 117.317 LIII - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.318 LIV - Creative Expression: performance
Acting Drama 20
Movement Drama 10
Playwriting - Drama 20
Junior Goal II Objectives
Junior Orientation
Junior Goal I Objectives
Theatre Studies Level II - Intermediate (Theatre History)
Senior Goal I Objectives
Senior Goal II Objectives
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
Grade 6 - Exploring Forms and Cultural Contexts
Grade 6 - Creating and Presenting
Grade 7 - Creating and Presenting
Grades 9 & 10 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - Drama and Society
Grade 11 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - Drama and Society
Grade 11 - Creating and Presenting - Elements and Conventions
Grade 11 - Creating and Presenting - The Creative Process
Grade 12 - Foundations - Concepts and Terminology
Grade 12 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - The Critical Analysis Process
Grade Seven
Theatre Arts II: Dramatic Literature And Theatre History
Theatre Arts IV: Advanced Acting And Directing
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