Unit
in Drama One Curriculum
Japanese Theatre
Created by Karen Loftus
4 lessons
This unit will enable students to identify, compare, and contrast three different styles of Japanese theatre: Noh, Bunraku, and Kabuki. There are three proposed projects in this unit: a research assignment where groups delve into further detail about one of the three styles; a performance project where students utilize what they’ve learned by enacting a scene from a Kyogen (comedic) play; and a Bunraku puppet play.
Start here
The overview lays out the structure of the unit, including objectives, materials list, lesson structure and assessment and time management tools.
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1Lesson 1Noh TheatreIn this introductory lesson, students learn about Noh Theatre, discuss its primary elements, and then do an exercise that puts those elements into practice.
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2Lesson 2BunrakuIn this introductory lesson, students learn about Bunraku theatre, discuss its primary elements, and then do an exercise that puts those elements into practice.
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3Lesson 3KabukiIn this introductory lesson, students learn about Kabuki theatre, discuss its primary elements, and then do an exercise that puts those elements into practice.
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4Lesson 4Unit Project - OptionsThere are 4 projects and written work that are provided as possible final assignments for this unit.
Standards Addressed
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
- Create artistic works collaboratively and as an individual using ideas inspired by imagination, inquiry, experimentation, and purposeful play
- Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of personal, social, cultural, historical, and environmental contexts in relation to the arts
- Explore relationships between identity, place, culture, society, and belonging through the arts
- Intentionally select and apply materials, movements, technologies, environments, tools, and techniques by combining and arranging artistic elements, processes, and principles in art making
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
- Develop and refine ideas, processes, and technical skills in a variety of art forms to improve the quality of artistic creations
- Reflect on works of art and creative processes to understand artists' intentions
- Research, describe, interpret and evaluate how artists (dancers, actors, musicians, and visual artists) use processes, materials, movements, technologies, tools, techniques, and environments in the arts
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
- Adapt learned skills, understandings, and processes for use in new contexts and for different purposes and audiences
- Express, feelings, ideas, and experiences through the arts
- Interpret and communicate ideas using symbols and elements to express meaning through the arts
- Take creative risks to express feelings, ideas, and experiences
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
- Create artistic works collaboratively and as an individual using ideas inspired by imagination, inquiry, experimentation, and purposeful play
- Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of personal, social, cultural, historical, and environmental contexts in relation to the arts
- Explore relationships between identity, place, culture, society, and belonging through the arts
- Intentionally select and apply materials, movements, technologies, environments, tools, and techniques by combining and arranging artistic elements, processes, and principles in art making
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
- Develop and refine ideas, processes, and technical skills in a variety of art forms to improve the quality of artistic creations
- Reflect on works of art and creative processes to understand artists’ intentions
- Research, describe, interpret and evaluate how artists (dancers, actors, musicians, and visual artists) use processes, materials, movements, technologies, tools, techniques, and environments in the arts
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
- Create artistic works collaboratively and as an individual using ideas inspired by imagination, inquiry, experimentation, and purposeful play
- Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of personal, social, cultural, historical, and environmental contexts in relation to the arts
- Explore relationships between identity, place, culture, society, and belonging through arts activities and experiences
- Intentionally select and apply materials, movements, technologies, environments, tools, and techniques by combining and arranging artistic elements, processes, and principles in art making
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Exploring and creating
- Create dramatic works both collaboratively and as an individual, using ideas inspired by imagination, inquiry, and purposeful play
- Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of personal, social, cultural, historical, and environmental in relation to drama
- Explore relationships between identity, place, culture, society, and belonging through dramatic experiences
- Select and combine dramatic elements and principles to intentionally create a particular mood, effect, and meaning
- Take creative risks to experience and express thoughts, emotions, and meaning
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Connecting and expanding
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
- Create dramatic works with an intended audience in mind
- Develop a repertoire of dramatic skills and techniques through presentation or performance
- Develop performance skills in a variety of contexts
- Experiment with a range of props, processes, and technologies
- Explore and create dramatic works to express ideas and emotions
- Explore dramatic works through presentation or performance
- Improvise and take creative risks to express meaning
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
- Create, rehearse, and refine dramatic works through collaborative and individual presentation or performance
- Develop a repertoire of dramatic skills and techniques through presentation or performance
- Develop and refine performance skills in a variety of contexts
- Experiment with a range of materials, props, processes, and technologies to create and refine performances
- Improvise and take creative risks using imagination, exploration, and inquiry
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
- Create, rehearse, and refine dramatic works through collaborative and individual presentation or performance
- Develop a repertoire of dramatic skills, vocabulary, and techniques through presentation or performance
- Develop and refine performance skills in a variety of contexts
- Experiment with a range of props, processes, and technologies to create and refine innovative dramatic works
- Improvise and take creative risks using imagination, exploration, and inquiry
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
- Describe, analyze, and evaluate ways in which props, technologies, and environments are used in drama, using discipline-specific language
- Evaluate the social, cultural, historical, environmental, and personal contexts of dramatic works
- Reflect on aesthetic experiences and how they relate to a specific place, time, and context
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
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