Content Standard #4: Directing by interpreting dramatic texts and organizing and conducting rehearsals for informal or formal productions Content Standard #5: Researching by evaluating and synthesizing cultural and historical information to support artistic choices Content Standard #6: Comparing and integrating art forms by analyzing traditional theatre, dance, music, visual arts, and new art forms Content Standard #7: Analyzing, critiquing, and constructing meanings from informal and formal theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions Content Standard #8: Understanding context by analyzing the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic media in the past and the present Outline: 11 lessons for a beginning-intermediate theatre class Grade level: 10-12th grade Understandings: Essential Questions: Students will understand that…… What does it mean to be a playwright, or a theatre practitioner? What qualifies as “good work?” How The definition of what a playwright is can exist in can we relate to those who have come before us? many different forms (both contemporary and Should we? How can plays or work we create traditional). They’ll also understand that “good transcend time? How can we create new meaning work” also exists in a variety of forms, but is in old texts? relatable, and transcends time. Additionally, students understand that they, too, are playwrights. Students will know… Students will be able to… Students will know many different influential Understand how to apply contemporary playwrights and plays, many different performance practices to a traditional show to contemporary performance groups and practices, create new meaning, analyze meaning and and they’ll know how to critically analyze new content, and they will be able to collaboratively meaning that can be created through contemporary devise a contemporary scene. work. Learning Activities: -Presentation of famous plays/playwrights -Presentation of contemporary performance groups -Media mini-workshop -Class discussions -Brainstorming worksheet -Analysis of performance choices -Peer reviews and responses -Unit reflection
Content Standard #4: Directing by interpreting dramatic texts and organizing and conducting rehearsals for informal or formal productions Content Standard #5: Researching by evaluating and synthesizing cultural and historical information to support artistic choices Content Standard #6: Comparing and integrating art forms by analyzing traditional theatre, dance, music, visual arts, and new art forms Content Standard #7: Analyzing, critiquing, and constructing meanings from informal and formal theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions Content Standard #8: Understanding context by analyzing the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic media in the past and the present Outline: 11 lessons for a beginning-intermediate theatre class Grade level: 10-12th grade Understandings: Students will understand that…… The definition of what a playwright is can exist in many different forms (both contemporary and traditional). They’ll also understand that “good work” also exists in a variety of forms, but is relatable, and transcends time. Additionally, students understand that they, too, are playwrights. Essential Questions: What does it mean to be a playwright, or a theatre practitioner? What qualifies as “good work?” How can we relate to those who have come before us? Should we? How can plays or work we create transcend time? How can we create new meaning in old texts? Students will know… Students will know many different influential playwrights and plays, many different contemporary performance groups and practices, and they’ll know how to critically analyze new meaning that can be created through contemporary work. Students will be able to… Understand how to apply contemporary performance practices to a traditional show to create new meaning, analyze meaning and content, and they will be able to collaboratively devise a contemporary scene. Learning Activities: -Presentation of famous plays/playwrights -Presentation of contemporary performance groups -Media mini-workshop -Class discussions -Brainstorming worksheet -Analysis of performance choices -Peer reviews and responses -Unit reflection