Submitted by Melissa Melnick
Objectives:
Content:
Students will...
- demonstrate an understanding of how dialogue contributes to the transmission of a character's personality in a play.
Cultural:
Students will...
- demonstrate an understanding of the themes of the plays they will be performing and watching.
- demonstrate an understanding of how culture affects the choice of theme and language used in dramatic works.
Language: Content Obligatory
Students will...
- use commands in the tú form to direct students in a play
- use intonation and inflection to express a character's personality
Language: Content Compatible
Students will...
- use vocabulary such as pensar, creer, opinar to use peer editing with culturally appropriate stuctures.
- use past subjunctive to express situations that could have occured but did not.
Learning Strategies / Social and Skills Development:
Students will...
- empathize with characters in the plays they are reading.
- give feedback in a direct and sensitive manner.
Time Frame:
This lesson will be completed in 6 days.
Materials Needed:
· Plays
· Handout #5 (see Attachments)
· Handout #6 (see Attachments)
· Handout #7 (see Attachments)
Description of Assessment (Performance Project):
* * * Day 1 * * *
Background:
Students will begin the hour by reading and discussing in groups according to the biography that they read the night before (see lesson 3). Students will discuss the predictions they have made concerning the themes of the play.1. Each group will then be given a short play. Each student will choose a role to read (or two if the role is a small one). (10 minutes)
2. Students will read through the play one time to become familiar with the characters and the plot. Each group will answer the questions on Handout #4. (30 minutes)
3. The class will come together and each group will report the main story line of their play to the class. Other students will ask questions for clarification of the themes and characters in the play. (10 minutes)Homework:
Students will write a list of at least five adjectives that they believe describes the character they are reading in the play and provide an example from the text that supports each adjective they use in the description. They should use five adjectives to describe all of the other characters in the play. Encourage them to use each adjective no more than two times.* * * Day 2 * * *
1. Students will form their groups based on the plays they're reading.
2. Each student will present their list of characteristics and supporting text. Other group members will comment and suggest additions or deletions from the list. (10 minutes)
3. Students will read through their play again and concentrate on inflection and fluency. They will try to emulate the character by using their intonation and tone they believe are appropriate given their description of the character. (20 minutes)
4. After reading through the play again, students will discuss the characters' emotions during different sections of the play. They will answer the questions on Handout #5. (15 minutes)
5. Finally, students will determine what costumes each character should wear and what scenery would help make the play more accessible to the audience. (5 minutes)* * * Day 3 * * *
1. Students will read through the play one more time. This time they will record their reading on cassette tape.(15 minutes)
2. Students will listen to a portion of their play. They will answer the questions in the first column on Handout #6. (20 minutes)
3. The groups of students will exchange tapes and listen to a portion of another group's play. They will answer the questions in the second column on Handout #6 and provide feedback to the original group. (20 minutes)Homework:
Students will read through the play one more time at home. They will answer the journal question: What are the main themes of the play you will be performing? Do these themes apply to your life? If so, how? If not, why not?* * * Day 4 * * *
Students will read the responses to the taped version of their play. They will make final preparations for the performance of their play. They will finish making scenery and/or practice the play.
Homework:
Students will read through their lines of the play one more time to improve fluency. They will also bring any costumes or other items needed from home.* * * Day 5 * * *
Students will perform the plays either for their own class or for other classes. If your school has a mini-theater, this setting would be ideal.
* * * Day 6 * * *
In groups, students will evaluate their performance of the plays using Handout #7. The entire class will discuss the evaluations of the performances.
Assessment:
Self-evaluation found in Handout #7.
Attachments:
NOTE: some attachments are in PDF form (get Acrobat Reader)Handout #5 - MSWord | PDF
Handout #6 - MSWord | PDF
Handout #7 - MSWord | PDF