This tech-based drama course walks students through the path to producing a show for the stage. Students begin by learning how to analyze their own personal design aesthetics and others' around them, then learn various aspects of theatre design required for a stage production or entertainment-based company.
Unit path: Community Building -> Theatre Management/Business -> Scenic Design -> Costume & Makeup Design -> Lighting Design -> Sound Design -> Careers in Theatre & Wrap-up
This performance-based course focuses on improvisation and sketch comedy techniques to help students develop improv shows, skits, and solo or group scenes. Students also learn the basics of Forensics or Speech Team event types and how to adapt performance for different script contexts and audience types.
Unit path: Community Building -> Team Improv -> Impromptu Speaking -> Poetry & Storytelling -> Audience Analysis -> Parody Skits -> Original Comedy Skits
This performance and writing-based course teaches students the basics to writing an effective speech and defending a stance using strong criteria. Students will learn various speech writing styles as well as more formal public-speaking skills.
Unit path: Community Building -> Informative Speeches -> Impromptu Speaking -> Audience Analysis -> Persuasive Speeches -> Entertainment-Based Speeches -> Learning Debate through Tier Lists -> Group Social Debates -> Reflection and Critique
More advanced acting methods are tackled in this drama course building off of skills learned in the previous grade level. Students will continue to develop their acting skills while also getting experience with theatre design choices.
Unit path: Theatre for Young Audiences/Storytelling Theatre -> Stage Directions & Positions -> Realism & Duet Acting Scenes -> Monologues & Auditioning -> Intro to Improvisation -> Intro to Theatrical Design -> Intro to Theatre History
An introductory drama course with age-appropriate lessons for middle school students. Main focuses for this course include learning to express emotions through body language and movement, voice techniques for various characters, and exploring scene creation in partner and small groups.
Unit path: Movement/Pantomime -> Voice & Character -> Subtext & Contentless Scenes -> Intro to Playwriting -> Puppetry
Creative Drama-based course offered for summer school session in Arlington Heights School District 25. This curriculum is based on exploration of body, mind, and voice to imagine different settings or scenarios. Basic drama skills serve as the foundation of the course, with an emphasis on play.
Basic Public Speaking course through the College of Lake County consisting of 3 speeches: Introduction Speech, Informative Speech, and a Persuasive Speech. Course topics include audience analysis, speech anxiety, outlining, writing an argument, and more.
Transition camp course offered for summer school session in Arlington Heights School District 25. This curriculum is based on preparing incoming 5th graders for executive functioning skills needed in middle school, along with expectations for the school day and extracurricular activities.