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Unit

Foundations of Acting

Created by Annie Dragoo

7 lessons acting middle school friendly

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the foundations of acting. At the end of the unit, students will be able to understand the value of making rich acting choices on stage.

This unit gives students an opportunity to explore and develop acting skills on a more advanced level, regardless of experience. They will explore skills, including voice, movement, emotional recall, memory, playing objectives, and character development culminating in a final scene.

Start here
The overview lays out the lesson structure, timing, and assessment strategy for the unit.
  1. 1
    Lesson 1
    The Actor and the Stage
    In this lesson, students have an opportunity to explore all the different areas of the stage and the positions which an actor uses to command attention.
  2. 2
    Lesson 2
    The Actor's Voice
    In this lesson, students have an opportunity to practice vocal expression by reciting nursery rhymes with three different vocal varieties. They will receive instant feedback from their peers and teacher.
  3. 3
    Lesson 3
    Using Emotional Recall
    During this lesson, students will explore how the five senses can be used by actors as a technique to create a character.
  4. 4
    Lesson 4
    Objectives and Tactics
    During this lesson, the student will perform open scenes to practice using multiple tactics to achieve the character’s objectives in a scene.
  5. 5
    Lesson 5
    Character History
    During this lesson, students are challenged to devise interesting characters by creating a character history and then using that information in a character improv. This exercise will allow students to practice a portion of the necessary work to build a multi-dimensional character.
  6. 6
    Lesson 6
    Enriching Your Choices
    In this lesson, students will use the act of entering and exiting a scene in character to demonstrate character choice.
  7. 7
    Lesson 7
    The Scene
    In this culminating exercise, students will prepare a scene using what they have learned throughout the unit.

Standards Addressed

Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 7

Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 6

Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 8

Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade HS Proficient

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 6

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 7

Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 7

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 8

Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 8

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