Digital @ The Arts Unit Creative Classes
Boy
Explore elements of drama and performance using the text 'Boy'
Student drama resource developed by The Arts Unit
Years 3 and 4 drama
What will I learn?
You will:
explore and create roles based on a stimulus
respond imaginatively
create sounds and actions
perform to communicate dramatic meaning
create artworks using a book as a stimulus.
Welcome to the class
Duration: 00:37Before you begin
You will need:
space to move around safely
paper, pencils, textas or other items for colouring.
- Watch and act
Watch this video from the 2019 State Drama Festival 'Boy'.
Students from Narrabeen Lakes Public School adapted their play from the children's book 'Boy' by Phil Cummins.
State Drama Festival 2019 – Primary – Boy
Narrabeen Lakes Public School Duration: 05:18Can you act like some of the characters in the play?
Menacing
Communicating with dancing hands
Ferocious
Puzzled
Scared
Proud
Have someone take a picture or a video of you creating your characters.
Perhaps you could try putting them together into a sequence to tell the story and perform it for someone.
2. Watch and learn
Watch the read aloud video of Boy and try to take notice of all the words in the story that are used to imitate sound. For example: cling, clang and roar.
Write down as many of these words you can see.
Boy – Read Aloud
Duration: 04:45How many did you come up with?
We found 9. Did you get the same or did you find more?
The words we found were: cling, clong, clang, roar, ting, clunk, hiss, clank and ching.
Words that imitate sounds are called 'onomatopoeia'.
Now that is a big word!
Watch this funny video to learn more about the word onomatopoeia.
Onomatopoeia
Duration: 01:253. Create
Try doing the following actions and think about what word you could use to describe the sound you make by doing the action. For example: hitting a bucket with a plastic spoon could be 'thud'.
What sound word do you think of when you…
crunch dry leaves in your hands
blow bubbles in some water through a straw
shake some rice or pasta in a jar
swirl around a container of Lego or other small toys
tap a glass with a spoon?
Do any of these actions create sound words from the book 'Boy'?
Try creating 2 new action sounds with other items you have around you.
Let's see how creative you can be.
Pick 3 of the sounds and have someone record you creating these sounds.
Draw your words on some paper using cartoon words.
Look at the examples in the brain image to give you some ideas.
Now that you have your 3 sound words, try to create actions with your body that represent those words.
Remember you cannot use your voice!
Some examples might be:
Thud – stomp around with loud, heavy feet.
Boing – jump and bounce around like a spring.
Now it is your turn to be creative. What can you come up with for your 3 words?
Write a short story about one of the characters from the story 'Boy'.
Use your 3 sound words in your story.
Act out your character's story. Include your sounds and be sure to use lots of emotion and expression to help tell your story.
Perhaps you can have someone make the sounds you created while you are doing the actions and perform them together.
Be sure to share your great work with your teacher.
Dragon
Andrew Du MughnBennett Road Public SchoolOperation Art 2014
4. Draw
Can you draw an image or a message in the sand like the boy in the story?
Perhaps there is a sandpit or some dirt outside. You could also try sprinkling a little flour on a bench or table.
Be sure to check with an adult before using flour!
Dragon drawn in dirt
Dragon drawn in flour
When using flour, sprinkle only a small amount (about half a cup) on the surface you are using.
A good tip is to use a colander or a spoon with holes in it to help create a thin spread of flour.
Great work today!
We hope you have had fun creating characters!
You have now completed this Digital @The Arts Unit Creative Class.
Third-party content attributions
State Drama Festival images, photographer: Anna Warr.
Dragon, © Andrew Du Mughn, 2014, reproduced and communicated with permission.