In this middle school unit by Rachel Atkins, students will explore how to strengthen a theatrical argument through objectives, communication, and conflict: What characters do, what they say, and how they say it when they make an argument or try to achieve an objective. To do this, students will use tableaux, dialogue, and improv. There are presentations and post-lesson writing assignments that you can use for assessment.
How do characters, actors and writers use a variety of actions to achieve an objective or support an argument? How do they enhance their communication by word choice and emotion? How do they develop and strengthen their own arguments by understanding other points of view?
The overview includes the goals of the unit and provides an outline for each of the three lessons.
In this lesson, students explore character objectives: They will use facial expression and physical gestures to make statues of different actions that characters might take to get what they want. Students will work with a partner to create tableaux (frozen stage pictures) to show a specific action and response. They will write an argument in which they identify a specific action – and then support that claim with evidence from the statues and tableaux.
In this lesson, students explore word choice, emotion, and vocal expression in communication. They will select an objective or argument and actions to support it. They will write lines of dialogue to match different actions. They will choose an emotion that correspond with the line and action, and practice speaking their lines with emotion and vocal expression. Finally, they will write an argument explaining how a line expresses a specific action – and support it with evidence.
In this final lesson, students explore two different characters whose opposing points of view or arguments create a conflict. They will identify the objectives or arguments for each character. They will act out a scene between those two characters multiple times, playing both characters. Finally, they will write an argument from one character’s point of view – and support it with evidence.
TH:Pr4.1.7.b - Use various character objectives in a drama/theatre work.
TH:Pr5.1.6.a - Recognize how acting exercises and techniques can be applied to a drama/theatre work.
TH:Cr3.1.6.a - Articulate and examine choices to refine a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
7.TH:Pr4.b - Use various character objectives in a drama/theatre work.
6.TH:Pr5.a - Recognize how acting exercises and techniques can be applied to a drama/theatre work.
6.TH:Cr3.a - Receive and incorporate feedback to refine a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
TH.912.F.1.2 - Solve short conflict-driven scenarios through improvisation.
TH.912.S.2.8 - Strengthen acting skills by engaging in theatre games and improvisations.
B.C.1.2 - Apply vocal elements of volume, pitch, rate, tone, articulation, and vocal expression.
Tennessee Theatre standards (2018) standards were built using the framework of the NCAS which is built on four key domains: Creating, Performing/Presenting/Producing, Connecting, and Responding. Within each of these domains are foundations and standards to support the development of curriculum, programs, and learning.
(source: Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee Academic Standards for Fine Arts, Summer 2018)
Please refer to National Core Arts Standards to determine the standard that best suits your needs.
C.2.B - imagine and clearly describe characters, their relationships, and their surroundings.
C.2.E - express emotions and ideas using interpretive movements and dialogue.
B.2.C - select movements and dialogue to portray a character appropriately.
B.1.E - apply knowledge of theatrical vocabulary and terminology.
B.2.B - portray characters through familiar movements and dialogue.
B.2.D - express thoughts and feelings using effective voice and diction.
C.2.C - demonstrate effective voice and diction to express thoughts and feelings.
C.3.B - analyze and evaluate dramatic texts and direct brief scenes.
11 - construct a conflict between two characters (protagonist and antagonist)
develop the ability to analyze and assess the process and the art
demonstrate the ability to initiate, organize and present a project within a given set of guidelines
Describe, interpret and respond to works of art and explore artists’ intent
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
Interpret works of art using knowledge and skills from various areas of learning
Reflect on works of art and creative processes to understand artists’ intentions
Reflect on works of art and creative processes to understand artists motivations and meanings
Describe, analyze, and respond using drama-specific language
Reflect on dramatic experiences and how they relate to a specific place, time, and context
Improvise and take creative risks using imagination, exploration, and inquiry
Purposefully select and combine dramatic elements and conventions
Improvise and take creative risks using imagination, exploration, and inquiry
Intentionally select and combine dramatic elements and conventions