The Basics Lesson Plans

Lesson 5 of 6 in Absurdism: Beyond the Origins Unit

A World Which No Longer Makes Sense

by Lindsay Price

In this lesson, students will be introduced to a Black writer who explores racism through the absurdist form: Adrienne Kennedy.

Slide Deck Lesson 5

# The Basics

Lesson 3 of 6 in Absurdism: Beyond the Origins Unit

Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

by Lindsay Price

In this lesson, students will move beyond the traditional origins of Theatre of the Absurd through two different playwrights: Vaclav Havel (Audience) and Issam Abdel-Masih Mahfouz (The Dictator), both of whom write about environments where power has created a distorted reality. Students will be introduced to these playwrights and then write their own version of a distorted reality.

Slide Deck Lesson 3

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Lesson 1 of 6 in Absurdism: Beyond the Origins Unit

Absurdism and Other Isms

by Lindsay Price

In this lesson, students will define the different eras of the beginning to the middle of the 20th century and apply their knowledge in exercises.

Slide Deck Lesson 1

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Audience Etiquette

by Lindsay Price

In a drama class there is often a focus on onstage activities: performance skills, staging a scene, ensemble building. But the audience plays a vital and necessary role in the process. Theatre does not happen without an audience. It’s important for students to be aware of and apply audience etiquette.

In this lesson, students will explore the different ways an audience behaves depending on the event, what is bad audience behaviour, establish the rules, practice critical thinking as an audience member and complete an exit slip to demonstrate comprehension.

# The Basics # analysis

Lesson 3 of 5 in Theatre Etiquette Unit

Audience Etiquette

by Kerry Hishon

Theatre does not happen without an audience. It’s important for students to be aware of and apply audience etiquette. In this lesson, students will explore the different ways an audience behaves depending on the event, what is bad audience behaviour, establish the rules, practice critical thinking as an audience member, and complete an exit slip to demonstrate comprehension.

# The Basics # etiquette

Lesson 4 of 5 in Theatre Etiquette Unit

Audition Etiquette

by Kerry Hishon

Students will explore the elements of the audition process, discuss the necessary guidelines of audition etiquette, and practice applying those guidelines.

# The Basics # etiquette

Lesson 2 of 3 in Front of House Unit

Basic Marketing

by Karen Loftus

Students continue their exploration by learning about elements of a marketing poster and applying that information by designing a poster.

Slide Deck Lesson 2

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Lesson 12 of 12 in Aristotle's Elements Unit

Bonus Lesson: The Three Vs of Storytelling

by Lea Marshall

This can be a standalone lesson, or an add-on to the unit. It introduces the concept of the 3 V's: VIEWERS are looking for a VICARIOUS, VULNERABLE, and/or VISCERAL experience.

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Lesson 7 of 12 in Aristotle's Elements Unit

Character Matters

by Lea Marshall

To introduce the Aristotelian element of Character.

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Copyright and the Theatre

by Craig Mason

Copyright and the Theatre go hand in hand, especially if you’re doing plays, but a topic about which many students (and even teachers) lack knowledge. Students will read about the aspects of Copyright and the Theatre, reflect on making changes to scripts, and complete a Copyright and the Theatre Quiz.

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Lesson 1 of 1 in Copyright *Hyperdoc Unit

Copyright Hyperdoc

by Lindsay Price

The purpose of this unit is to give students an introduction to independent learning as well as an overview of Copyright. Students will apply their knowledge throughout, and the unit culminates in a final activity.

# The Basics # hyperdoc

Copyright Introduction

by Craig Mason

Copyright and the Theatre go hand in hand, especially if you’re doing plays. But a topic about which many students (and even teachers) lack knowledge. Students will reflect upon and discuss four questions introducing the topic of copyright. They will then improvise scenarios -- two of which establish copyright correctly, two of which establish copyright incorrectly.
The lesson ends with students deciding which scenarios are correct.

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Lesson 7 of 10 in Unit Eight: Theatre of the Oppressed Unit

Creating Forum Theatre Scenarios

by Lindsay Johnson

In groups, students will begin by briefly bringing to life the tableaux from Lesson 5. They will then create the skeleton of a scene for each tableau, indicating the protagonist, antagonist, and method of oppression in each scenario. Finally, students will review their peer’s work and rank the scenes that they are most interested in bringing to life.

Slide Deck

# The Basics # middle school friendly

Lesson 1 of 7 in Unit One: Ensemble Building and Class Norms Unit

Ensemble Building

by Lindsay Johnson

In this first lesson at the start of a new year, students learn daily classroom routines, participate in a name game, and complete a successful journal entry reflecting on circle discussion. They will begin to interact with the Weekly Ensemble Rubric through the journal element.

Slide Deck

# The Basics # middle school friendly

Lesson 5 of 7 in Unit One: Ensemble Building and Class Norms Unit

Feedback Continued

by Lindsay Johnson

In this fifth lesson, students continue to practice classroom norms and continue to practice giving strong feedback. In the performance task, students will practice giving strong feedback by giving a specific suggestion for improvement.

Slide Deck

# The Basics # middle school friendly

Lesson 6 of 7 in Unit One: Ensemble Building and Class Norms Unit

Feedback Continued and Feedback Quiz

by Lindsay Johnson

In this sixth lesson, students continue to practice classroom norms and continue to practice giving strong feedback. In the performance task, students will give peers strong feedback through using body language and vocal tone to encourage and show eagerness for peers to improve.

Slide Deck

# The Basics # middle school friendly

Lesson 11 of 12 in Aristotle's Elements Unit

Final Project

by Lea Marshall

To have students apply what they have learned.

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Lesson 6 of 12 in Aristotle's Elements Unit

Got Thoughts?

by Lea Marshall

To continue applying the Aristotelian element of Thought.

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How to Create a Budget When You've Never Done it Before

by Kerry Hishon

In this lesson plan, students will take on the role of a producer. They have had their show approved, but, before they get started, they must create a budget to track the money coming and going. Budgeting is a job that must be completed by the producer for every show. What’s involved? What does a budget look like?

# The Basics # production

Lesson 9 of 12 in Aristotle's Elements Unit

I Got the Music

by Lea Marshall

To introduce the Aristotelian element of Music.

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