Theatre Curriculum Guide

Description

This curriculum addresses four basic domains of learning: Psychomotor--developing perceptual and expressive skills and techniques; Cognitive--assimilating knowledge and developing higher order thinking skills; Affective--cultivating positive attitudes towards art and the discipline or are, and about themselves in relation to art; and Aesthetic--deriving pleasure from a combination of senses, emotions, intellect, philosophy, imagination and spirit. It is structured to allow for the maximum of crossover with other parts of the Elementary curriculum to create a whole learning approach. It is a guiding principle of this curriculum that drama can and should be used as a way of approaching the study of every subject, and that it can do so without compromising those curricular goals to which it is uniquely suited.

Big Ideas

• Theatre artists acquire skills in creative thinking, which allows them to exercise flexibility when making decisions and creating worlds through imagination.
• Theatre artists use curiosity, questioning, observations, experiences, and problem solving to generate ideas, concepts, and feelings that shape a work of theatre.
• Theatre requires active participation.
• Theatre artists are aware of their thinking process and analyze their own learning in order to evaluate and make choices for improving the quality of their work.
• Theatre interprets and reflects upon history, society, and culture.
• Theatre artists embrace creative risks and the opportunity to learn from the choices they make.
• The arts demand learning to reach beyond one's perceived capacities by taking creative risks.
• Theatre artists share stories about the human experience.
• Theatre fosters an understanding of oneself and his or her place in the world.
• Theatre artists acquire specific skills and knowledge to use in creating theatre.

Essential Questions

• What are the 5 W's and how are they used in identifying setting, plot and character?
• How can you identify the setting?
• What are key elements in creating a stage?
• How can you recognize the cultural and historical context of a dramatic work?
• How can you identify the historical environment of a theatrical work using scene, costumes and props?
• What are some methods that can be used to support and critique yourself and your peers in positive way?
• How can you review a theater event based on the elements found in the performance and production of the dramatic work being observed?
• How can you apply imaginative, analytical and process skills needed when creating original dramatic works?