Course Profile - Curriculum Services Canada

Teaching/Learning Strategies
• The teacher and students agree upon the scenes to be performed.
• Outline the expectations of the assignment as follows:
• Students carefully read through and study their scene.
• Students decide how they want to stage their scene. As an option the students draw the stage set.
• Students make a copy of the scene, if needed, so that they can make the necessary changes right
on the script.
• Students make production notes for the way they want to stage the scene. Production notes would
include pauses, tone of voice, gestures, and facial expressions, notes or diagrams of action and
movement.
• Students decide on how to costume their players. Again as an option, students provide a drawing
or description of the costumes, as well as a justification for selecting that particular costume.
• Students keep a response journal, outlining their thoughts and feelings as they work through the
process.
• Encourage students to practise with cue cards. Lead students through some simple relaxation
exercises in order to help them deliver their optimal performance, as found in a text such as
Dramathemes: A Practical Guide for Teaching Drama, (see Resources).
Assessment/Evaluation
Formative Assessment:
• Reader response journals for completion and thoroughness of reflection (see Appendix 2.1)
• Informal and formal observation of group process for co-operation and attention to task
• Rehearsal process via a participation checklist
Summative Assessment:
• Student performance of scene via a rubric (see Appendix 4.1)
Accommodations
• Videotape the scene for students who prefer not to do a live performance or as an added challenge
for those who would like to enhance their performance with editing and/or special effects.
• Use cue cards for the final performance for those students who are unable to memorize lines.
• Assign backstage duties to students who are unable to perform.
Resources
A drama text
Swartz. Dramathemes: A Practical Guide for Teaching Drama.
Kemp, D. A Different Drama.
Booth, D. Improvisation and Interpretation.
Beissel. Cues and Entrances.
Video and audio cassette versions of the plays
Unit 4 - Page 11
•English - Academic