PD Course
The Empathetic Classroom
Created by Steven Stack
Why should you take a class on empathy? And why is theatre the perfect vehicle for empathy?
Empathy, the more sought-after and inclusive cousin of sympathy, is the experiencing of someone else’s experience in the world. What it would be like if you were wearing their clothes, their life?
Teaching students to understand the clothes that they’re putting on, the characters and their lives teaches students not how to act but how to be. It allows the students to feel what someone else feels and experiences, which can and should translate to their fellow actors and peers away from the stage. It will lead to a stronger class connection, stronger performances and stronger students who will seek out understanding instead of isolation and fear.
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1Lesson 1Introduction13:29 FREE PREVIEWAn introduction to the course, including the instructor's inspiration for building an empathetic classroom.
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2Lesson 2AThe First Link13:55 FREE PREVIEWThis lesson covers the first link of the empathetic classroom - yourself, ourselves, the you.
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2Lesson 2BThe First Link19:44This lesson covers activities that can help in forming the first link - students connecting with themselves.
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3Lesson 3AThe Second Link15:58This lesson focuses on the second link in the empathy chain, a link with others.
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3Lesson 3BThe Second Link14:15This lesson continues to introduce activities focused on building links with others.
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4Lesson 4The Third Link20:20This lesson focuses on the third link in the empathy chain in which students connect with their characters.
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5Lesson 5AThe Fifth Link and Troubleshooting16:36This lesson discusses the fifth link - between ourselves and the outside world, and how students can make all links stronger.
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5Lesson 5BThe Fifth Link and Troubleshooting12:42This final lesson wraps up the course and completes the discussion on troubleshooting issues you may encounter.
Standards Addressed
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 6
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 7
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 7
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 8
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 8
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - High School Proficient
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - High School Accomplished
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
6.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
7.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
7.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
8.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
8.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Prof.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
Acc.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
6.TH:Re8 Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
7.TH:Re8 Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
Acc.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and 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.7.2.1.b Students Can: Apply various character objectives in a drama/theatre work.
- DT.7.3.2.a Students Can: Identify the artistic choices made based on personal experience in a drama/theatre work.
Eighth Grade
- DT.8.1.1.c Students Can: Develop a scripted or improvised character by articulating the character's inner thoughts, objectives, and motivations in a drama/theatre work.
- DT.8.2.1.b Students Can: Apply and justify various character objectives and tactics in a drama/theatre work to overcome an obstacle.
High School - Fundamental Pathway
High School - Advanced Pathway
- DT.H2.1.1.c Students Can: Develop a character that is believable and authentic in a drama/theatre work based on personal experiences and knowledge.
- DT.H2.1.2.b Students Can: Cooperate as a creative team to make interpretive choices for a drama/theatre work.
- DT.H2.1.3.a Students Can: Choose and interpret a drama/theatre work to connect and question beliefs.
Critical Thinking & Reflection
- TH.68.C.1.2 Develop a character analysis to support artistic portrayal.
- TH.912.C.1.2 Create, refine, and sustain complex and believable characters for performance through the integration and application of artistic choices based on research, rehearsal, feedback, and refinement.
- 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.2.2 Construct imaginative, complex scripts and revise them in collaboration with actors to convey story and meaning to an audience.
Innovation, Technology & the Future
Organizational Structure
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.
- TH.912.S.2.3 Demonstrate an understanding of a dramatic work by developing a character analysis for one or more of its major characters and show how the analysis clarifies the character's physical and emotional dimensions.
- TH.912.S.2.8 Strengthen acting skills by engaging in theatre games and improvisations.
- TH.912.S.3.3 Develop acting skills and techniques in the rehearsal process.
Grades 9-12 - ACTING LEVELS I-IV - Creating
Grades 9-12 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Creating
Grades 9-12 - MUSICAL THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Performing
Grades 9-12 - THEATRE HISTORY AND LITERATURE I AND II - Performing
Sixth Grade Create
Sixth Grade Respond
Seventh Grade Create
Seventh Grade Present
Seventh Grade Respond
Eighth Grade Create
Eighth Grade Present
Beginning High School Create
Intermediate High School Create
Accomplished High School Create
Advanced High School Connect
Advanced High School Respond
Beginning High School Standards - Communication
Proficient High School Standards - Communication
Advanced High School Standards - Culture
MS 117.211 LI - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
MS 117.212 LII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
MS 117.213 LIII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
HS 117.315 LI - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
- C.1.A understand the value and purpose of using listening, observation, concentration, cooperation, and emotional and sensory recall.
- C.1.B develop and practice theatre preparation and warm-up techniques.
- C.1.E analyze characters by describing attributes such as physical, intellectual, emotional, and social dimensions through reading scripts of published plays.
HS 117.316 LII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
HS 117.316 LII - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.316 LII - Creative Expression: production
HS 117.316 LII - Critical evaluation and response
HS 117.317 LIII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
HS 117.317 LIII - Critical evaluation and response
HS 117.318 LIV - Critical evaluation and response
Improvisation Drama 10
Acting Drama 20
Acting Drama 30
Improvisation/Acting Level III - Advanced
Junior Goal II Objectives
Junior Orientation
- demonstrate trust by becoming comfortable, physically and emotionally, with others
- listen effectively
- meet deadlines and follow through on individual and group commitments
- offer and accept constructive criticism, given specific guidelines, with a desire to improve
- recognize the purposes of and participate in warmup activities
- support positivity the work of others
- work cooperatively and productively with all members of the class in pairs, small groups and large groups
Improvisation/Acting Level I - Beginning
Junior Goal I Objectives
- develop a positive self-image
- develop a sense of responsibility and commitment
- develop self-confidence
- develop self-discipline
- extend the ability to explore, control and express emotions
- extend the ability to think imaginatively and creatively
- extend the ability to understand, accept and respect others- their rights, ideas, abilities and differences
Theatre Studies Level II - Intermediate (Theatre History)
Senior Goal I Objectives
- demonstrate a sense of inquiry and commitment, individually and to the group
- demonstrate a sense of responsibility and commitment, individually and to the group
- demonstrate respect for others-their rights, ideas, abilities and differences
- demonstrate the ability to contribute effectively and constructively to the group process
- demonstrate the ability to recall and use sensory information
- develop a positive and realistic self-image
- extend understanding of, acceptance of and empathy for others
- increase self-confidence
- increase self-discipline
Orientation Drama 10
- cope with success and failure in positive ways
- demonstrate self-discipline, self-direction and a sense of responsibility
- demonstrate trust by becoming comfortable with others, physically and emotionally
- display consideration and respect for self and others
- positively support the work of others
- work cooperatively and productively
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Exploring and creating
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Connecting and expanding
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
Grade 6 - Creating and Presenting
Grade 7 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
- B2.1 construct personal interpretations of drama works, connecting drama issues and themes to their own and others’ ideas, feelings, and experiences
- B2.2 analyse and describe, using drama terminology, how drama elements are used to communicate meaning in a variety of drama works and shared drama experiences
Grade 7 - Creating and Presenting
Grades 9 & 10 - Foundations - Responsible Practices
Grades 9 & 10 - Foundations - Context and Influences
Grades 9 & 10 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - Connections Beyond the Classroom
Grades 9 & 10 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - Drama and Society
Grades 9 & 10 - Creating and Presenting - Elements and Conventions
Grades 9 & 10 - Creating and Presenting - The Creative Process
Grade 11 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - The Critical Analysis Process
Grade 11 - Creating and Presenting - Elements and Conventions
Grade 11 - Creating and Presenting - The Creative Process
Grade 12 - Foundations - Responsible Practices
Grade Seven
Theatre Arts II: Dramatic Literature And Theatre History
Theatre Arts III: Intermediate Acting & Playwriting
Theatre Arts III: Intermediate Acting & Playwriting
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