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Part of the Drama One Curriculum

Scenic Design

Created by Karen Loftus

This unit will focus on the basics: what is scenic design? How do the scenic designer and director collaborate? What is the process that the scenic designer goes through? The unit will also explore basic drafting techniques, and rendering techniques.

Based on what they learn, students will create a ground plan and a rendering. Please refer to the Pacing Guide for more details and ways to supplement with other DTA materials.

Unit Overview
This unit will focus on the basics: what is scenic design? How do the scenic designer and director collaborate? What is the process that the scenic designer goes through? The unit will also explore basic drafting techniques, and rendering techniques. Based on what they learn, students will create a ground plan and a rendering.
Additional Attachments
1: What is Scenic Design?
Students are introduced to the concept of scenic design, as well as the role of the Scenic (or Set) Designer. They are also introduced to the 3 kinds of props and 2 types of sets
2: The Process
Students learn a process for scenic design and participate in an exercise to develop their skills.
3: The Script
Students use the opening stage directions from The Glass Menagerie script to identify scenic elements and create thumbnail sketches of a set.
4: Drafting: Part 1
Students are introduced to the concept of scale, sightlines, drafting symbols, and how to create a ground plan. A reflection is included.
5: Drafting: Part 2
Students apply what they learned in Drafting: Part 1 to create a ground plan for their design from The Glass Menagerie.
6: Rendering
Students learn what a rendering is and how to draw their own from their ground plans.
Attachments
7: Final Submission
Students hand in script notes, ground plan, and renderings. An assessment rubric is included, as well as ideas for unit reflection and an extra credit project.

Standards Addressed

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