THEATRE ARTS
THEATRE ARTSTHEATRE ARTS K-2
Overview
The arts are the first languages of children. Children are naturally involved in the arts from an early age as they sing, pantomime, move, create, and communicate through their senses. Theatre arts in grades K-2 encourages students to explore themselves and their world through creative drama. Students will develop thinking and learning skills by imitating, speaking, moving, creating and sharing. The dramatic process, primarily teacher-guided, provides students with opportunities to express and understand themselves and others in a positive way. Because of the exploratory nature of creative drama, students of all learning styles find an outlet for self-expression. They also develop the skills associated with peer acceptance and personal discipline while working in a non-threatening learning environment.
Content Integration
Creative drama provides a natural vehicle for curriculum integration. As students role play and re-enact stories, they bring literature to life and develop reading expression and comprehension skills. By imitating animals, exploring playing areas and interacting with others, students explore science, math and social studies and other disciplines' concepts through the power of drama.
The theatre arts goals and objectives for K-2 describe a strong foundation for all subsequent years. As students progress from teacher-guided activities to small group activities and on to independent practice, their skills will increase in sophistication.
Presentations
Presentations are an option to be considered by the elementary teacher as the natural culmination of a creative process, rather than an artificially imposed requirement. Emphasis must be on student learning and positive reaction, rather than on trying to impress adults. Theatre is often referred to as a shared experience between actors and audiences, therefore, student pride and development in sharing theatre is what makes performance worthwhile. The complexity or formality of any theatrical performance should be dependent upon the comfort level, enthusiasm and willingness of both the students and the teacher. There are many other things students can do to participate in and support classroom presentations, so students who are genuinely afraid to perform in front of an audience should never be forced to do so.
Role of the Audience
Beginning with early elementary levels, students should examine the role of the audience in theatre. Teachers should be diligent in requiring students to be respectful audience members for any presentation, sharing activity or similar group situations, whether in the classroom or in a more formal setting. In order to share in and benefit from any presentational activity, students must demonstrate appropriate audience behavior. Selecting or generating presentations of a length corresponding to the students' developmental level will aid the teacher in this effort.
THEATRE ARTS - Kindergarten
The focus of theatre arts at the kindergarten level is to explore the role/s of the family unit and its members. Students explore the senses, movement and age appropriate literature through dramatic play. Students are exposed, through guided practice, to the beginning stages of drama and pretend play. The emphasis at this grade level is on:
- Building movement and imitation skills
- Experiencing a variety of dramatic stories
- Adapting, enacting, or repeating
- Simulating events
- Expressing character choices
- Understanding acceptable audience behaviors and responses
- Sharing and viewing of creative drama activities
Strands: Perceiving, Thinking, Comprehending, Applying, Integrating, Communicating, Creating, Analyzing, Critiquing, Imitating
COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will write based on personal experience and heritage, imagination, literature, and history. (National Standard 1)
Objectives
1.01 Restate setting, characters, and story events through pictorial, visual and physical aides.
1.02 Retell stories through guided dramatic play from text read aloud.
1.03 Recall the character/family relationships in stories, plays, puppet shows, etc.
1.04 Repeat sequence of events through verbal and nonverbal communication.
1.05 Recognize patterns in stories.
COMPETENCY GOAL 2: The learner will act by interacting in improvisations and assuming roles. (National Standard 2)
Objectives
2.01 Recognize that pretend play is dramatic.
2.02 Differentiate between dramatic play and creative drama.
2.03 Imitate a variety of roles in family life.
2.04 Express various ideas and emotions through gestures, movement and voice.
2.05 Role play a variety of real and non-real characters through guided dramatic play.
COMPETENCY GOAL 3: The learner will design and produce theatre by conceptualizing and realizing artistic interpretations for informal or formal productions. (National Standard 3)
Objectives
3.01 Identify the setting for the story.
3.02 Adapt a space for playing out a story.
3.03 Distinguish between playing space and audience space.
3.04 Understand acceptable audience behaviors and responses.
3.05 Recognize the role of simple props, scenery and costumes in the dramatic process.
3.06 Imagine a variety of real and non-real environments.
COMPETENCY GOAL 4: The learner will direct through planning and presenting informal or formal productions. (National Standard 4)
Objectives
4.01 Repeat dialogue for retelling a story through guided practice.
4.02 Imitate the sounds and movements of objects, animals and people.
4.03 Listen and respond to directions and side coaching in dramatic activities.
4.04 Participate in group decision-making about artistic choices.
COMPETENCY GOAL 5: The learner will research by finding information to support informal or formal productions. (National Standard 5)
Objectives
5.01 Manipulate simple props and costumes to support the character or story.
5.02 Choose or imitate movement to support the playing of the character.
5.03 Choose or imitate vocal levels and ranges to support the playing of a character.
5.04 Notice character traits in visual aides such as storybook pictures.
5.05 Identify character traits using verbal and nonverbal expression.
5.06 Discuss the five senses as they relate to objects, animals, and people.
COMPETENCY GOAL 6: The learner will compare and integrate art forms by analyzing traditional theatre, dance, music, visual arts, and new art forms. (National Standard 6)
Objectives
6.01 Use sound, movement and drawing through dramatic play.
6.02 Use puppets in dramatic play.
6.03 Participate in and use the art form of pantomime.
6.04 Begin to be aware that a variety of art forms are infused into theatre and come from all cultures.
6.05 Discuss basic similarities and differences.
COMPETENCY GOAL 7: The learner will analyze, critique, and construct meaning from informal and formal theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions. (National Standard 7)
Objectives
7.01 Engage in discussion about dramatic process.
7.02 Listen to and demonstrate respect for the thoughts and opinions of others.
7.03 Look for the results of characters' actions in a variety of literary forms.
7.04 Discuss likes and dislikes of audience members.
7.05 Describe characters, setting and events seen or portrayed in formal or informal productions.
COMPETENCY GOAL 8: The learner will understand context by analyzing the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic media in the past and present. (National Standard 8)
Objectives
8.01 Share the role of film and television in one's family life.
8.02 Share the role of electronic media such as radio and computer in one's family life.
8.03 Experience live or recorded performances.
8.04 Participate in creative drama.
THEATRE ARTS - Grade 1
The focus of theatre arts in grade 1 is to explore the concept of self. Students begin to define personal space in dramatic activities. The dramatic process still occurs through guided practice, but students are encouraged to participate more independently by making personal choices through movement, dialogue and expression. Students also continue to build skills for the beginning stages of drama and pretend play through guided practice. The emphasis at this grade level is on:
- Refining movement and imitation skills
- Experiencing a variety of dramatic stories
- Adapting, enacting, or repeating stories
- Simulating events through dramatic play
- Expressing character choices
- Displaying acceptable audience behaviors and responses
- Participating in and viewing creative drama
Strands: Perceiving, Thinking, Comprehending, Applying, Integrating, Communicating, Creating, Analyzing, Critiquing, Imitating
COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will write based on personal experience and heritage, imagination, literature, and history. (National Standard 1)
Objectives
1.01 Restate setting, characters, and main idea through pictorial, visual and physical aides.
1.02 Retell stories through guided dramatic play from a read-aloud text.
1.03 Recall stories about individual experiences.
1.04 Utilize sequence of events through verbal and nonverbal communication in a simple drama.
1.05 Demonstrate the patterns in stories.
COMPETENCY GOAL 2: The learner will act by interacting in improvisations and assuming roles. (National Standard 2)
Objectives
2.01 Enact a variety of roles based on individual experiences.
2.02 Express various characters, ideas, and emotions through gestures, movement and voice.
2.03 Role play a variety of real and non-real characters through guided dramatic play.
2.04 Make spontaneous decisions in the dramatic process to support character choices.
2.05 Imitate teacher-guided improvisation.
COMPETENCY GOAL 3: The learner will design and produce theatre by conceptualizing and realizing artistic interpretations for informal or formal productions. (National Standard 3)
Objectives
3.01 Represent physically the setting for a story.
3.02 Arrange a space and materials for playing out a story.
3.03 Adjust character movement to include audience focus.
3.04 Display acceptable audience behaviors and responses.
3.05 Utilize simple props, scenery and costumes in the dramatic process.
3.06 Imagine a variety of simple real and non-real environments.
COMPETENCY GOAL 4: The learner will direct through planning and presenting informal or formal productions. (National Standard 4)
Objectives
4.01 Create dialogue for retelling a story in one's own words.
4.02 Adapt sounds and movements to objects, animals, and people within a personal space.
4.03 Listen and respond to directions and side-coaching in dramatic activities.
4.04 Cooperate with peers and teacher in group decision-making about artistic choices.
4.05 Define a personal space for use in dramatic activities.
4.06 Share playing space with other performers.
COMPETENCY GOAL 5: The learner will research by finding information to support informal or formal productions. (National Standard 5)
Objectives
5.01 Utilize simple props and costumes to support a character or story.
5.02 Choose or imitate movement to support the playing of a character.
5.03 Choose or imitate vocal levels and ranges to support the playing of a character.
5.04 Point out character traits in visual aides such as storybook pictures.
5.05 Identify character traits displayed through verbal or nonverbal expression.
5.06 Implement ideas to use as a basis for dramatic activities.
5.07 Distinguish character dialogue in story narration.
5.08 Identify the five senses as they relate to objects, animals, and people.
COMPETENCY GOAL 6: The learner will compare and integrate art forms by analyzing traditional theatre, dance, music, visual arts, and new art forms. (National Standard 6)
Objectives
6.01 Integrate sound, movement and drawing into dramatic play.
6.02 Utilize the art form of puppetry.
6.03 Participate in the art form of pantomime.
6.04 Be aware that art forms used in theatre presentations come from all cultures.
6.05 Discuss basic similarities and differences between art forms.
COMPETENCY GOAL 7: The learner will analyze, critique, and construct meaning from informal and formal theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions. (National Standard 7)
Objectives
7.01 Engage in discussion about dramatic process.
7.02 Listen to and display respect for the thoughts and opinions of others.
7.03 Look for the results of characters' actions in a variety of literary forms.
7.04 Discuss likes and dislikes of audience members.
7.05 Describe characters, setting and events seen or portrayed in formal or informal productions.
7.06 Identify strengths of peers and self.
COMPETENCY GOAL 8: The learner will understand context by analyzing the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic media in the past and present. (National Standard 8)
Objectives
8.01 Consider the role of imitation in theatre.
8.02 Share the role film and television have played in relationship to one's self.
8.03 Share the role of technology and electronic media.
8.04 Experience live or recorded performances.
8.05 Participate in creative drama and experience informal presentations.
THEATRE ARTS - Grade 2
The focus of theatre arts in grade 2 is to explore the concept of community. This dramatic process is a combination of teacher-guided practice and small group collaboration. The student continues to make personal choices about movement, dialogue and expression while building intrapersonal skills for use in the beginning stages of creative drama.
The emphasis at this grade level is on:
- Applying movement and imitation skills
- Experiencing a variety of dramatic stories
- Adapting, enacting or repeating stories
- Discerning beginning, middle and end of dramas
- Developing basic skills for playwriting
- Developing basic skills for reading comprehension and expression
- Enacting character choices
- Developing basic skills for using technical theatre elements
- Understanding the difference between actor and character
- Participating in and viewing creative drama
Strands: Perceiving, Thinking, Comprehending, Applying, Integrating, Communicating, Creating, Analyzing, Critiquing, Imitating
COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will write based on personal experience and heritage, imagination, literature, and history. (National Standard 1)
Objectives
1.01 Participate in teacher-guided playwriting of simple dramas.
1.02 Build reading comprehension by using verbal and nonverbal communication.
1.03 Recognize setting, characters, sequence of events and main idea through pictorial, visual and physical aides.
1.04 Dramatize, through guided dramatic expression, stories from a read-aloud text, poem, fairytale or other form of literature.
1.05 Recall and enact stories about community experiences.
1.06 Identify how characters attempt to solve problems and resolve conflicts.
1.07 Compare and contrast the moral of the story in various fables and fairytales.
COMPETENCY GOAL 2: The learner will act by interacting in improvisations and assuming roles. (National Standard 2)
Objectives
2.01 Assume a variety of roles, cast by the teacher, that reflect upon community experiences.
2.02 Demonstrate various characters, ideas and emotions through gestures, movement and voice.
2.03 Assume the role of a variety of real and non-real characters.
2.04 Utilize improvisation skills to make verbal and nonverbal character choices in the dramatic process.
2.05 Experiment with vocal expression and character traits to portray real and non-real characters.
2.06 Enact the sequence of events.
COMPETENCY GOAL 3: The learner will design and produce theatre by conceptualizing and realizing artistic interpretations for informal or formal productions. (National Standard 3)
Objectives
3.01 Participate in making artistic choices for the scenery in a presentation.
3.02 Transform a space and materials for acting out simple dramas.
3.03 Adjust character movement to include audience focus.
3.04 Acquire basic skills to react and interact with characters on stage.
3.05 Transform objects into simple props, scenery and costumes to support the dramatic process.
3.06 Experiment with the concept and role of technical theatre elements such as sound, props, costumes, scenery, fundamental stage managing and directing.
COMPETENCY GOAL 4: The learner will direct through planning and presenting informal or formal productions. (National Standard 4)
Objectives
4.01 Repeat or paraphrase dialogue from a story to create a drama.
4.02 Apply sound and movement to display character traits of objects, animals and people within community experiences.
4.03 Cooperate with peers in small group decision-making about artistic choices.
4.04 Understand responsible audience behaviors and responses in dramatic activities.
4.05 Recognize the importance of listening to one another within the drama.
4.06 Point out similarities and differences between simple monologues and dialogue within a story or drama.
4.07 Understand the role of the narrator in the dramatic process.
COMPETENCY GOAL 5: The learner will research by finding information to support informal or formal productions. (National Standard 5)
Objectives
5.01 Hypothesize the need for simple props and costumes to support the character or story.
5.02 Choose movement to support the playing of a character.
5.03 Choose vocal expression to support the playing of the character.
5.04 Utilize information about character traits derived from visual or auditory aides.
5.05 Express character dialogue in story narration.
5.06 Reference story to determine technical needs for dramatic presentation.
5.07 Make predictions about characters, setting and events based on story content.
5.08 Discuss how personal experience can be used as the basis for character choices.
COMPETENCY GOAL 6: The learner will compare and integrate art forms by analyzing traditional theatre, dance, music, visual arts, and new art forms. (National Standard 6)
Objectives
6.01 Incorporate music, sound, movement, dance and design.
6.02 Utilize the art form of puppetry in simple dramas.
6.03 Utilize the art form of pantomime in characterization.
6.04 Explore the art form of fundamental mask making.
6.05 Comprehend that art forms used in theatre presentations come from all cultures.
6.06 Identify different art forms within the community.
6.07 Build skills to read with dramatic expression various simple scripts derived from poetry, short stories, fairytales, imagination and other forms of literature.
COMPETENCY GOAL 7: The learner will analyze, critique, and construct meaning from informal and formal theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions. (National Standard 7)
Objectives
7.01 Recognize emotions and thoughts evoked by informal and formal theatre performances.
7.02 Display respect by listening to the thoughts and opinions of others.
7.03 Understand that characters' actions have results in a variety of literary forms.
7.04 Express reflections during and after a creative drama activity.
7.05 Describe characters, setting and events seen or portrayed in formal or informal theatre productions.
7.06 Identify strengths of peers and self.
7.07 Explain reasons behind artistic choices.
COMPETENCY GOAL 8: The learner will understand context by analyzing the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic media in the past and present. (National Standard 8)
Objectives
8.01 Recognize the role of imitation in theatre.
8.02 Share the role of film and television in the community.
8.03 Share the role of technology and electronic media.
8.04 Experience live or recorded performances.
8.05 Discuss the similarities and differences between live and recorded theatrical events.
8.06 Participate in and experience creative drama.
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