Unit 2 — History of the Arts and Culture
Description
This unit explores the cultural and historical context of dramatic works, the purposes of theater in various eras and cultures, and how theater reflects society and culture. Students investigate how to identify the historical environment of a theatrical work using scene, costumes, and props.
Essential Questions
- 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?
Learning Objectives
- Identify and understand the purposes of theater in various eras and cultures.
- Understand the role of theater in various communities.
- Identify major historical periods of theater.
- Recognize that theater has a distinct history reflecting the society and culture of its time.
- Describe what can be deduced about a society/community's values based on a representative play from that culture.
- Demonstrate how art communicates ideas about personal and social values and is inspired by an individual's imagination and frame of reference (e.g., personal, social, political, historical context).
- Describe the culture in the world of a play and compare it to the world that produced the play.
- Recognize works of dance, music, theatre, and visual art as a reflection of societal values and beliefs.
- Articulate cultural, historical and social context of their original work.
Supplemental Resources
- Create a Timeline: Theatre Lesson
- History of Musical Theatre: Lesson
- Glossary of Terms
- Kids Musical Theater Anthology by Lisa DeSpain
- A Chronological Outline of World Theatre by Walter J. Meserve and Molly Ann Meserve
Visual Arts - Connecting
Visual Arts - Creating
Visual Arts - Presenting
Visual Arts - Responding
Students prepare for and participate in conversations and collaborations with diverse partners about dramatic works. Students integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats including video performances. Students analyze how and why individuals and ideas develop over the course of dramatic texts. Students interpret words and phrases in dramatic scripts including technical and figurative meanings. Students read and analyze dramatic structures including dialogue and stage directions. Students write routinely over extended time frames to research and reflect on theatre and shorter responses about performances.
Students describe how the world is divided into nations with different governments, languages, customs, and laws. Students describe how culture is expressed through and influenced by the behavior of people. Students describe how the development of both written and unwritten languages impacted human understanding and the development of culture and social structure. Students explore how theatre reflects societal values and beliefs across diverse cultures throughout history.
Formative Assessments
- Teacher observation: Use a variety of vocal tones and breath control to create a character's feelings and mood.
- Teacher observation: Use basic analysis skills to perform a character within a scene.
- Performance rubrics
- Performance task checklist
- Self reflection - Mapping ones journey
- Critique a performance of script using predeveloped criteria.
- Pair-share
- Peer evaluation and observation
- Analyzing primary source documents on the history of theatre in various cultures.
- Conduct short research projects on the cultural origins of theatre to support analysis, reflection, and research.
- Use technology to create a presentation
- Evaluate informal in class performances and video evidence of student performances using observation, discussions, drawings, video, and simple student-created rubrics.
Summative Assessment
Students create a short scene or tableau depicting a theatrical work from a specific historical period, using appropriate costumes, props, and scenery to demonstrate understanding of how theater reflects its historical and cultural context. Students present their scene to the class and explain the historical choices they made in their staging.
Benchmark Assessment
A short written or oral assessment in which students identify the historical period of a given theatrical scene based on costumes, props, and setting, and explain the purpose of theater in that era and culture. Students may also analyze how a specific theatrical work reflects the society or community in which it was created.
Alternative Assessment
Students may demonstrate understanding through a visual presentation, such as creating a labeled poster or digital slideshow identifying the historical period, purpose, and cultural context of a theatrical work, with teacher support in organizing information. Visual supports such as picture cards of costumes, scenes, and props may be provided to aid in identifying historical environments.
IEP (Individualized Education Program)
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Section 504
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ELL / MLL
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At Risk (RTI)
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Gifted & Talented
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