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 - Creating
Visual Arts - Presenting
Visual Arts - Responding
Students engage in collaborative discussions, build on others' ideas, and express their own ideas clearly. Students read and interpret dramatic texts, analyze character development and themes, and write narratives and reflections about theatrical performances and experiences.
Students explore how theatre reflects cultural values and historical contexts. Students analyze the perspectives of different cultures and time periods through dramatic works, examine how communities express themselves through theatre, and investigate historical events and figures through performance and research.
Students demonstrate movement sequences in response to rhythm and music. Students explain and correct movement errors in response to feedback and explain how changes improve performance.
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 and perform a brief scene from a historical period studied in the unit, using appropriate costumes, props, and staging to demonstrate understanding of how theater reflected the culture and purposes of that era. Performance is assessed using a rubric that evaluates historical accuracy, use of theatrical elements, and student reflection on what the scene reveals about the time period.
Benchmark Assessment
A written or visual analysis task in which students identify the historical period of a theatrical work based on scene elements, costumes, and props, and explain how the theater's purpose reflected the culture and society of that era.
Alternative Assessment
Students may demonstrate understanding through a teacher-led discussion or recorded oral presentation identifying historical theater periods and their cultural purposes, with visual aids such as images of costumes, sets, or props to support responses.
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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