Unit
in Drama One Curriculum
Voice
Created by Karen Loftus
This unit focuses specifically on the technical aspects of vocal production. By understanding how voice is created, students will be more aware of how to improve their vocal production. Students will explore posture and breathing exercises, as well as how to use the diaphragm, projection, and articulation. The final project will test students’ ability to properly project and articulate a joke across a large space.
Start here
The overview lays out the structure of the unit, including objectives, materials list, lesson structure and assessment and time management tools.
-
1Lesson 1What makes a “good voice?”Students discuss and apply aspects of what makes a voice a “good voice:” projection, articulation, posture, proper breathing.
-
2Lesson 2ResonanceStudents learn about the resonators and use them in an exercise.
-
3Lesson 3ArticulationStudents learn about the articulators and use them with tongue twisters and additional exercises.
-
4Lesson 4Unit ProjectThis is a simple project. Your students are going to tell a joke or riddle to the class. The reason to use a joke or a riddle (rather than a poem, prose piece, monologue, or scene) is students in the audience will want to hear the answer. They will be more engaged in the simple joke or riddle than passively listening to something else. See the add-on if you wish to have students apply projection and articulation to a scene.
Standards Addressed
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 7
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Proficient
7.TH:Pr5 Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Prof.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
Seventh Grade
Speaking and Listening
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
Language
Skills, Techniques & Processes
Beginning High School Present
Beginning High School Standards - Communication
Intermediate High School Standards - Culture
MS 117.211 LI - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
MS 117.211 LI - Creative Expression: performance
MS 117.211 LI - Critical evaluation and response
MS 117.212 LII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
MS 117.212 LII - Creative Expression: performance
MS 117.212 LII - Critical evaluation and response
MS 117.213 LIII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
MS 117.213 LIII - Creative Expression: performance
MS 117.213 LIII - Critical evaluation and response
HS 117.315 LI - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
HS 117.315 LI - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.315 LI - Critical evaluation and response
HS 117.316 LII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
HS 117.317 LIII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
HS 117.317 LIII - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.318 LIV - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
HS 117.318 LIV - Creative Expression: performance
Speech Drama 10
- 1 demonstrate vocal relaxation and warmup techniques
- 10 demonstrate safe and appropriate projection
- 11 demonstrate how phrasing and pausing, intonation, rate and rhythm affect meaning
- 12 create specific vocal sound effects
- 2 apply effective breathing techniques
- 3 recognize the effect of good posture on voice
- 4 demonstrate knowledge of the parts of the body that are associated with voice production: vocal tracts, lungs, diaphragm, bronchi, trachea, larynx, uvula, pharynx, vocal folds
- 5 recognize how the jaw, lips, tongue, teeth and velum play an important role in articulation
- 6 perform exercises to relax and improve the movement of the articulators
- 7 demonstrate knowledge of the terms intonation, pitch, projection, rate, volume, rhythm, resonance, pausing and phrasing in speech activities
- 8 recognize the resonators’ contribution to vocal quality
- 9 use and practice levels of pitch
Improvisation Drama 10
Junior Goal II Objectives
Junior Goal III Objectives
Junior Orientation
- communicate through use of voice and body
- demonstrate a willingness to take calculated and reasonable risks
- focus concentration on one task at a time
- generate imaginative and creative solutions to problems
- listen effectively
- meet deadlines and follow through on individual and group commitments
- offer and accept constructive criticism, given specific guidelines, with a desire to improve
- recognize the purposes of and participate in warmup activities
- respond to directions without breaking concentration-side coaching
- share ideas confidently with others
- speak, move, and generate ideas spontaneously
- support positivity the work of others
Speech Level I - Beginning
Speech Level II - Intermediate
Speech Level III - Advanced
Improvisation/Acting Level I - Beginning
Junior Goal I Objectives
Theatre Studies Level 1 - Beginning (performance analysis)
Senior Goal I Objectives
Senior Goal II Objectives
Orientation Drama 10
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
- Describe, interpret and evaluate how artists (dancers, actors, musicians, and visual artists) use processes, materials, movements, technologies, tools, techniques, and environments to create and communicate ideas
- Develop, refine ideas, and critically appraise ideas, processes, and technical skills in a variety of art forms to improve the quality of artistic creations
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Connecting and expanding
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
Grades 9 & 10 - Foundations - Responsible Practices
- C.3.2 identify and apply the skills and attitudes needed to perform various tasks and responsibilities in producing drama works (e.g., use active listening and cooperative problem-solving skills; practise punctuality; use tact in suggesting changes and improvements; demonstrate willingness to accept criticism and build consensus)
- C.3.3 demonstrate an understanding of theatre and audience etiquette, in both classroom and formal performance contexts (e.g., as a performer: show willingness to take direction and behave appropriately towards other actors; as a viewer: demonstrate respect for performers and other audience members by paying attention, not interrupting or talking, and applauding when appropriate)
Grade Six
Grade Six
Grade Six
- 6.12 The student will demonstrate how meaning is expressed both physically (through movement, gesture, and other forms of physical expression) and verbally (through vocal choices).
- 6.13 The student will identify techniques and skills for actor preparation, including memorization and warm ups for performance.
- 6.14 The student will demonstrate theatre as dramatized storytelling by preparing and presenting short scenes that include characters, setting, properties, conflict, and a progressive chain of events.
Grade Seven
Grade Seven
Grade Seven
- 7.12 The student will develop physical and vocal technique for theatre performance.
- 7.13 The student will explain techniques and skills for actor preparation, including concentration, discipline, preparation, and imagination for theatrical performance.
- 7.14 The student will research, analyze, rehearse, and present a scripted character in a memorized scene and/or monologue.
Grade Eight
Grade Eight
Grade Eight
- 8.12 The student will develop physical and vocal technique for theatre performance.
- 8.13 The student will use character analysis techniques to research, develop, and present a scripted character.
- 8.14 The student will demonstrate the mental and physical discipline necessary for creating and maintaining an imagined reality during performance.
Theatre Arts I: Introduction to Theatre
Theatre Arts I: Introduction to Theatre
Theatre Arts II: Dramatic Literature And Theatre History
Get instant access to this and everything else in the Drama Teacher Academy
