Objective:
Students will demonstrate their ability to write and perform a group script by performing a class devised piece based on Knuffle Bunny Free or The Ox Cart Man.
Class Level:
Beginning; unit can be used for 1st or 2nd grade. All lessons are 30 minutes.
Main Concepts:
collaboration, devising, rhythm, pantomime, improvisation
Description:
Students learn basic theatre skills by working together to create a play based on a storybook.
Lesson Plans
Lesson 1: Introducing Story and Devising
Students will demonstrate their ability to begin to engage with the story in Knuffle Bunny Free/The Ox Cart Man by participating in a reading of the book and discussion.
Lesson 2: Rhythm and Story
Students will discover qualities of movement inspired by Knuffle Bunny Free/Ox Cart Man by participating in the rhythmic journey activity.
Lesson 3: Pantomime
Students will begin to apply movement to telling parts of Knuffle Bunny Free/The Ox Cart Man by participating in situation pantomime game.
Lesson 4: Improvisations
Students will put speech to their pantomimes to develop scenes based on Knuffle Bunny Free/The Ox Cart Man by participating in scenario improvisations.
Lesson 5: Putting it Together
Students will demonstrate their ability to collaboratively decide the flow of their show by putting together the scenarios they improvised into one play.
Lesson 6: Dress Rehearsal
Students will demonstrate their ability to work together on solidifying their show by participating in a dress rehearsal of their class play.
Lesson 7: Performance
Students will demonstrate their ability to write and perform a group script by performing a class devised piece based on Knuffle Bunny Free/The Ox Cart Man.
Utah Core Curriculum Language Arts First and Second Grade:
Identify beginning/middle/end, characters, setting, problem/resolution.
Unit Essential Questions:
What is collaboration?
Why collaborate?
How do we express an idea?
Why do we create something new?
How do we create something new?
Sources:
Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems
The Ox Cart Man by Donald Hall
Tomorrow’s Stages: Blueprints for Transforming Theatre
Creative Drama in the Classroom and Beyond Eighth Edition by Nellie McCaslin
Theatre as an Art Form.Devising a Class Play Lessons.Brewster, Cotten, Rutter