This learning example encourages students to portray a role using facial expression, posture, stance, and gait; and to discuss the qualities and attributes of roles in a wider sense, for example: What it is that makes the characters unique and memorable? What makes grandmothers, or heroes, or dragons special? Personal experience and familiar stories could be used as resource ideas.
Teacher links discussions on roles back to students' own experiences.
FreezeFrame (Word 42KB) is a convention in which the members of a group use their bodies to make an image capturing an idea, theme, or moment in time; an individual may act as sculptor for the group; also called a group sculpture or tableau.
Reluctant speakers can be involved in this activity by electing them to be the 'sculptor'.
May be more developed forms of freeze frame in which individuals can act as sculptor for the group gently shaping the bodies of others and in some cases applying clothing, fabric or props to dress the group picture and shape a frozen picture or tableau. This allows for deepened understanding. The tableau may capture an idea, theme or moment in time.
Constantly recycle the words on the word list. Encourage students to use descriptive language when planning and building their freeze frame.
hotseating (Word 28KB) is a convention in which class members question or interview someone who is in role, for example, as a character from a play, a person from history, or a hero/heroine or animal from a story to draw out additional information, ideas, and attitudes about the role.
ESOL students usually find it difficult to formulate questions. This is an excellent opportunity to model questioning. Encourage and prompt students in this challenging area. Make a wall chart with possible questions and refer to it regularly.
A convention in which individuals or groups provide spoken explanation or commentary on the main action of a drama.
Drawing on their own personal experience and memories, the students will begin by imitating the gestures they have seen grandmothers use. They will be able to explore different expressions and gestures to fit other situations and characters.
Students will be able to explore the way particular characters might walk. For example, a hero/heroine might wear an imaginary cloak. It is heavy and will effect the way he/she walks.
Published on: 09 Jan 2018
