The KS3 Curriculum for Drama at KH8 introduces the students to the key areas for study at IGCSE and A-Level. We predominantly look at the skills associated with the continuation of study of the subject:
"We must all do theatre to find out who we are and to discover who we could become". - Augusto Boal (a Brazilian theatre practitioner, drama theorist, and political activist)
Performance Skills- Development of Physical and Vocal Skills. In doing so we are also enabling the students to gain confidence in presenting themselves to an audience for many other contexts, such as public speaking. Coupled with the creative group skills that are inherent to the study of Drama, these provide an excellent support to other areas of the school curriculum and future careers.
Cultural Awareness- Through the study of World Theatre Traditions ranging from Japan to Italy, students embrace these varied theatrical traditions, put them in a modern context and assimilate them into their own creative processes to develop their own theatrical style.
Theatre Practitioners, Theatre Companies, Genres and Styles- Students develop their practice through research and peer- learning
Thematic- The skills and knowledge gained are embedded into projects which look at a wide range of topics from ‘How to adapt a children’s book for a young audience’, through to being able to place yourselves in the shoes of Rosa Parks and those others on that bus in 1955, where Parks refused to relinquish her seat.
With such varied skills, some physical, some vocal, some research based, students can expect a range of grades that reflect their natural ability coupled with the way that they have engaged with the topic of study. Each Unit of Study is assessed based on different criterion and parents should chat with the teacher about these at Parents’ Evenings.
Unit 1: Storytelling
What makes a story?
Identifying story elements of well-known fairy tales
Present fairy tales as physical storytelling performances
Observe a professional storytelling production (The Odyssey)
Assessment: develop small group storytelling performances based on The Odyssey -
Unit 2: Ancient Greek Theatre -
The Odyssey
Monologues
Chorus
Masks
Assessment: adapt the Odyssey storytelling work to create short pieces of drama in the style of Ancient Greek Theatre
Unit 2: Poetry
Writing original poems
Performing in groups and solo
Performing classic poems like The Tyger, The Kraken and The Jabberwocky, in groups (choral speaking)
Assessment: Group and solo poems will be assessed. The best group will perform at the House Poetry Slam.
Unit 3: Special Effects for The Stage
Research
Script writing
Design
Produce
Assessment: Students will create a prototype to show the class