Greek Theater Lesson Plan

9/30/16 Drama Lesson Plan

Elements of Greek Theatre

6^th Grade, Mrs. Geer’s class

Objective: Students will demonstrate using their voice and body as a dramatic tool by creating and performing in a 1-2 minute short skit in a group of 5 based on a myth in the context of ancient Greek theater.

Warm up: Here Comes Charlie! 10 min

Source: https://www.dramanotebook.com/

Purpose of the game: Helping students to think about using their bodies and voices.

Description: Three people stand onstage waiting for Charlie, each person describes one of the traits he has. The first person says what Charlie sounds like (example: an old man), the next says what he moves like (example: an octopus), and the third says what he looks like (a physical characteristic, example: he has HUGE eyes!) The off-stage actor playing Charlie enters the stage displaying those traits!

Content Introduction 3 min

Explain to the group components of theater in Ancient Greece: 

•  No more than 3 actors, chorus of 15 men- larges gestures, 
• Playwright competition- Thespis one of the most famous
• At foot of hill, in an amphitheater, Centered in Athens
•  Terms: orchestra, skene, and mechane
• Comedy versus tragedy- work with tragedy today.

Put on a short play:

1.       Popsicle sticks- Groups of 4-5

2.       In your group, you need 2 actors and the rest will be chorus members. Chorus members will be narrating the story using their voice as a tool to convey the story. Actors will be using their bodies and gestures as a tool to convey the story. All participants will use their mind. Decide on roles and show me a sign when you know who you are.

3.       As a class, we are going to be putting on the play of Daedalus and Icarus, but each group is going to do one scene of the story, or one chapter- so to speak. I will tell you what your part is. This is going to end up being 1 minute long when you perform it- so not very long. I will hand out the scenes. Read it together as a group and make sure everyone understands the story.

4.       Now start designing your play. Remember it will be 1 minute total. You will be using your clothing you are already wearing, which the Greeks often did. Masks were only used when depicting women or animals, typically. The actors need to know what their bodies should do- where they should walk, what they should do, and the chorus needs to know and decide what they need to say to depict the story. You can decide whether you want to narrate at the same time or one at a time. Make sure to work together so you create a myth play that goes together. 10 min.

5.       With what you have already, improve it. If you are an actor- what can your body do that will really help express the story? What will your facial expressions be? Will you move slowly or quickly, and why? Are you going to be standing in one spot, or walking around? Try to take what you already have, and then make it more meaningful by using your body in more meaningful ways. For the chorus, you will be saying words, but how can you use your voice as a tool to express what is really going on? Know what your voices will do- will there be loud parts, will there be soft parts, will there be times when you speak fast or slowly. How can you express emotion in your voice during different times? 3 more minutes to practice using your new tools. 5 min.

6.       Gather to watch each other’s plays. Explain the terms orchestra and skene in the context of greek theater. At the end of each play, comment on how they used their voices and bodies to express the story. 10 min

Standards-

Theater: 6.T.P.4 Communicate meaning using the body through space, shape, energy, and gesture.

Social Studies: 6.SS.1.4: Analyze how the earliest civilizations created technologies and systems to meet community and personal needs.

                c. Identify cultural expressions that reflect these systems (e.g. architecture, artistic

                    expression, medicine, philosophy, drama, literature).