Welcome to Middle School Drama!
Drama Class: The ability to effectively communicate is an essential life skill. Drama techniques can be utilized for deepening comprehension and verbal and non-communication to stimulate imagination and creative learning.
Students will learn:
* The techniques of proper vocalization such as tone, pitch, volume, diction, inflection, tone, pacing, enunciation, and projection.
* The process of characterization includes language and physicality, and how these affect a story.
* Key vocabulary terms.
* Nonverbal communication including symbols, facial and hand gestures, eye contact, and posture.
* Movement as it pertains to telling a story.
* Script Work
* Staging
* Theater Makeup
These drama techniques will be learned through various projects such as monologues, skits, radio shows, pantomime scenes, puppet shows, and short one act plays. A final project may include mini-plays based on fairy tales which will be scripted and presented by students. These plays should include all the elements learned during the year.
Teacher Expectations
Grading
Students are not graded on their ability to act. Drama is not an acting class. It is the willingness to try and actively participate that takes precedent over ability.
Performances
Homework & Assignments Dates
Our performances will be held during Drama class time. I will be making videos of all performances and at the end of the semester, we will have a Parent/Family Night where everyone can come and watch the video of the drama performances.
We have finished our Radio Shows and have moved on to Poetry. We have watched a few videos on how to act out in a dramatic way a poem. This includes mapping the poem and adding costumes or props if needed. Poem are to be memorized and practiced with partners in the class. Performances will begin Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Students will learn:
* The techniques of proper vocalization such as tone, pitch, volume, diction, inflection, tone, pacing, enunciation, and projection.
* The process of characterization includes language and physicality, and how these affect a story.
* Key vocabulary terms.
* Nonverbal communication including symbols, facial and hand gestures, eye contact, and posture.
* Movement as it pertains to telling a story.
* Script Work
* Staging
* Theater Makeup
These drama techniques will be learned through various projects such as monologues, skits, radio shows, pantomime scenes, puppet shows, and short one act plays. A final project may include mini-plays based on fairy tales which will be scripted and presented by students. These plays should include all the elements learned during the year.
Teacher Expectations
- Student’s come prepared with a notebook, drama parts, and a good attitude.
- Be respectful of others in the class.
- Cooperation. Listen to others ideas and share your ideas. Everyone has a voice. Then work together!
- Follow Through! If you agree to contribute something to a project, then do it. No excuses.
Grading
Students are not graded on their ability to act. Drama is not an acting class. It is the willingness to try and actively participate that takes precedent over ability.
- 10 Points Daily Grade for participation. This also includes attitude and citizenship.
- Projects are worth one test grade or 100 points
- Final project is worth two test grades or 200 points
- Student assessment on projects is based on meeting project goals, effort, and understanding of concepts, participation, audience behavior and overall citizenship.
- At the end of each project student participate in a group exchange about their experience stating what they perceive as strengths, weaknesses and given the opportunity, what they would do differently in the future.
Performances
- This class is designed to be a yearlong class culminating in a final performance.
- Each person is responsible for preparing props, costumes, etc. with their groups production.
- All Group Projects will be performed in class. These will be video recorded and then shared through Google Classroom for those student who wish to share their performances with their families. I will try to make sure all students can participate in each project for these performances.
- We will have one big end of year performance that is mandatory. When you are assigned a part in a play, everyone in your group is counting on you to be there.
- If you miss a performance, you can make up the grade by submitting a written paper as assigned by Mrs. Campbell. If it is an excused absence, a 1-2 page paper can be submitted. For an unexcused absence, a 5-6 page paper can be submitted with the student receiving up to 80% of the 100% Possible. Otherwise, all missed absences will receive a zero.
Homework & Assignments Dates
Our performances will be held during Drama class time. I will be making videos of all performances and at the end of the semester, we will have a Parent/Family Night where everyone can come and watch the video of the drama performances.
We have finished our Radio Shows and have moved on to Poetry. We have watched a few videos on how to act out in a dramatic way a poem. This includes mapping the poem and adding costumes or props if needed. Poem are to be memorized and practiced with partners in the class. Performances will begin Tuesday, Nov. 7.