Embedded Files
Drama
First Trimester
First Trimester
Storytelling
Storytelling
In first grade we start out the year by reviewing how to act out a story. We learn warm-ups, play games, and hear a story that is familiar to some but new to many: The Emperor's New Clothes. Students hear the story, practice standing, talking, and walking like the different characters in the story, and then are each assigned a role to act out. At this stage students are able to use minimal props and costumes, but the acting is still very informal.
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Express: With prompting and support I can play a part in this story.
Observe: When it is not my turn, I can be a good audience member and watch my classmates act out this story while keeping my voice quiet and my body still.
Kabuki
Kabuki
Next we learn about the Japanese theatre form Kabuki. We watch short videos of Kabuki acting and learn a little bit about the history of this strange artform. Kabuki acting is big, over the top, and strange. Students learn how to create Mies: frozen poses that come in at a very dramatic and emotional moment in the story. Students practice using their bodies and faces is weird new ways that they are not used to. Around Halloween we hear a Japanese ghost story, and try out our own Kabuki acting to tell this story. At the end of the unit we create masks based on pictures of Kabuki masks we have looked at (in Kabuki, good guys pain their faces red, and bad guys paint their faces blue). This year we used white disposable face masks that we could put on over our own masks.
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Stretch and Explore: I can try a type of acting that is different than what I'm used to.
Develop Craft: I can understand the concept of a Mie and use it in my performance.
Express: With prompting I can use my body and voice to help tell this story.
Understand the Art World: I can describe how in different parts of the world there are different types of theatre and acting.
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood
Next we hear the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood, and students have the opportunity to act some of the roles out in chorus. This means that everyone plays the same part for a certain section of the story, so everyone speaks together and no one is on the spot the remember a specific line. Students particular enjoy this activity with the well known section "Grandma, what big eyes you have." You can watch the students acting out this section in the videos bellow.
WIN_20211105_10_03_38_Pro.mp4Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Envision: I can imagine how I want my wolf voice to sound different than my little red voice.
Engage and Persist: I can work with the group to help tell this story: I can keep my voice at an appropriate volume and my body in my spot.
Express: With prompting and support I can act out a small piece of this story.
WIN_20211110_09_59_28_Pro.mp4WIN_20211105_10_07_02_Pro.mp4Second Trimester
Second Trimester
Christmas Nativity Tableaux
Christmas Nativity Tableaux
As many of you saw this Christmas, we spent the beginning of trimester two learning about tableaux and using them to tell the story of the nativity. Tableaux are large pictures that tell a story, and in drama we make these pictures with our bodies. Students learned about using their bodies and faces to show expression and tell a story. They also learned about working collaboratively together with other actors to tell the stories. These skills were showcased in front of a large audience at the AACA Christmas celebration. For many students this age, performing in front of an audience this size is challenging and a bit daunting; the students should be very proud of their work and their willingness to try this new activity!
Studio Habits of Mind
Studio Habits of Mind
Develop Craft: I can use costume pieces appropriately and with respect.
Express: I can use my body and face to tell a story.
Engage and Persist: I can perform in front of a large audience, even if it feels challenging.
Melodrama and the Paper Bag Princess
Melodrama and the Paper Bag Princess
Students started the new year learning about melodrama, a type of theatre that involves being big and over the top and expressing lots of emotions. Students learned about the three stalk characters: hero, villain, and damsel in distress (which we learned from many stories, does not actually have to be a girl!) We learned poses for different characters and melodramatic poses. We looked at a number of famous fairytales and identified the melodrama characters within these stories. We also practiced turning regular acting into MELODRAMATIC acting. We continued to use tableaux we previously learned about to help act out these ideas. We read the melodramatic fairytale The Gold Miner's Daughter and acted out short scenes from this story. Most recently, we read The Paper Bag Princess. Students have been creating their own poses and gestures for the three characters in the story that they have identified as hero, villain, or in distress.
Studio Habits of Mind
Studio Habits of Mind
Stretch and Explore: I can make my acting bigger and more dramatic. I can try new things even if it feels goofy.
Observe: I can watch and listen closely to identify the melodramatic elements and characters in a story.
Understand the Art World: I can describe different types of acting. I can list the traits that make something melodramatic or not.
Third Trimester
Third Trimester
Mixed up Fairytales
Mixed up Fairytales
This trimester first grade explored acting out some more famous fairytales, and played a lot of games and did a lot of drama activities that worked on skills such as collaboration/working together, focus, and movement. In the middle of the trimester we watched some of the original Willy Wonka move, and the video of middle school AACA students performing the musical Willy Wonka. We talked about the different aspects that go into putting on a musical, and how they may want to participate in that when they are older. Towards the end of the trimester we read and acted out some mixed up fairytales. In these silly activities students were able to use their critical thinking skills to recognize pieces of different fairytales and how they had been changed. One class even wrote their own mixed up fairytale that you can read bellow. We finished out the trimester with a lot of favorite drama games, and an opportunity to play with some of the Willy Wonka props and set pieces.
Studio Habits of Mind
Studio Habits of Mind
Stretch and Explore: I can make my acting bigger and more dramatic. I can try new things even if it feels goofy.
Observe: I can watch and listen closely to identify the melodramatic elements and characters in a story.
Understand the Art World: I can describe different types of acting. I can list the traits that make something melodramatic or not.
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