Lesson 9:
SGA Test & Preview
Objective:
Students will demonstrate their ability to act in a scene by previewing their Fuente Ovejuna scene. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the Spanish Golden Age by successfully completing a test.
Materials Needed:
Spanish Golden Age Test copies Lesson 9.SGA Test Lesson 9.SGA Test KEY
Pre-Hook: Have the following written on the board before students come into class:
“You have five minutes to review for the test!”
HOOK:
When class begins verbally reinforce the five-minute review. Encourage students to look at notes/worksheets, talk to their classmates, ask you any questions, etc.
TEST:
Have students put away everything except a writing utensil; pass out the tests and have students take the tests and turn them in when complete.
FILM:
Watch only five minutes of the film. Have students watch the acting performances specifically. Have them write in their journal two things that they liked about the performance(s) and one item that they have constructive criticism/questions about. Make sure everyone is clear what is meant by “constructive criticism” – something that can be improved, a kindly worded suggestion, an “I wonder” statement, etc.
Have them turn to a neighbor and share what they wrote down in their journals about the performance. Back together as a class, encourage students to use this same procedure in previewing each other’s scenes – except they will comment on one thing they liked/that worked in the scene and two items of constructive criticism.
GROUP REHEARSAL:
Give students ten minutes to warm up and run through their scene.
PREVIEWS:
Pre-select one group to perform their preview for the entire class. Choose what you feel is the best prepared, most ready performance to serve as a model for the other scenes. Have the “audience” students pull out paper and a writing utensil to respond to the preview. They will need ¼ sheet of paper for each of the four scenes they will watch. Remind them that they will be writing down one thing they liked and two items of constructive criticism for each scene.
After the preview conduct a very brief verbal feedback session calling on a few students to share one thing they wrote down. Include your own thoughts. Keep it short and sweet.
Now, instead of having every group preview for everyone, divide the class in half and have them perform their previews for only half the class (put two of the four remaining scenes in each half and divide the group that just performed and send those students to each half). If possible have two preview performance places so minimize distractions from performing in the same space. If possible have one teacher/supervisor with each half to give notes, time the scene, etc. Repeat the process: preview performance, written feedback, 2-3 minutes verbal feedback for each scene.
PREVIEW REHEARSAL:
Have each group collect the sheets that were written about them. Have them read them together and determine their plan of action for the rehearsal time they now have until the end of class. How can they take the notes from feedback to improvement? What will they work on?
Give the groups the remainder of the class period to rehearse their scenes.
CLOSURE:
Remind students that final performances are next class period. It is expected that the performances will be polished with appropriate props, hints of costume, drawing out of the theme of honor and love as appropriate and solid acting performances.