FOR TEACHERS
 


    THE NATIONAL ARTS STANDARDS

THEATRE (5-8)

In theatre, the artists create an imagined world about human beings; it is the role of the actor to lead the audience into this visual, aural, and oral world. To help students in grades 5-8 develop theatre literacy, it is important that they learn to see the created world of theatre through the eyes of the playwright, actor, designer, and director. Through active creation of theatre, students learn to understand artistic choices and to critique dramatic works. Students should, at this point, play a larger role in the planning and evaluation of their work. They should continue to use drama as a means of confidently expressing their world view, thus developing their "personal voice." The drama should also introduce students to plays that reach beyond their communities to national, international, and historically representative themes.

Content Standard #1: Script writing by the creation of improvisations and scripted scenes based on personal experience and heritage, imagination, literature, and history

Achievement Standard:

Students individually and in groups, create characters, environments, and actions that create tension and suspense Students refine and record dialogue and action

Content Standard #2: Acting by developing basic acting skills to portray characters who interact in improvised and scripted scenes

Achievement Standard:

Students analyze descriptions, dialogue, and actions to discover, articulate, and justify character motivation and invent character behaviors based on the observation of interactions, ethical choices, and emotional responses of people Students demonstrate acting skills (such as sensory recall, concentration, breath control, diction, body alignment, control of isolated body parts) to develop characterizations that suggest artistic choices Students in an ensemble, interact as the invented characters

Content Standard #3: Designing by developing environments for improvised and scripted scenes

Achievement Standard:

Students explain the functions and interrelated nature of scenery, properties, lighting, sound, costumes, and makeup in creating an environment appropriate for the drama Students analyze improvised and scripted scenes for technical requirements Students develop focused ideas for the environment using visual elements (line, texture, color, space), visual principles (repetition, balance, emphasis, contrast, unity), and aural qualities (pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, expression) from traditional and nontraditional sources Students work collaboratively and safely to select and create elements of scenery, properties, lighting, and sound to signify environments, and costumes and makeup to suggest character

Content Standard #4: Directing by organizing rehearsals for improvised and scripted scenes

Achievement Standard:

Students lead small groups in planning visual and aural elements and in rehearsing improvised and scripted scenes, demonstrating social, group, and consensus skills

Content Standard #5: Researching by using cultural and historical information to support improvised and scripted scenes

Achievement Standard:

Students apply research from print and nonprint sources to script writing, acting, design, and directing choices

Content Standard #6: Comparing and incorporating art forms by analyzing methods of presentation and audience response for theatre, dramatic media (such as film, television, and electronic media), and other art forms

Achievement Standard:

Students describe characteristics and compare the presentation of characters, environments, and actions in theatre, musical theatre, dramatic media, dance, and visual arts Students incorporate elements of dance, music, and visual arts to express ideas and emotions in improvised and scripted scenes Students express and compare personal reactions to several art forms Students describe and compare the functions and interaction of performing and visual artists and audience members in theatre, dramatic media, musical theatre, dance, music, and visual arts

Content Standard #7: Analyzing, evaluating, and constructing meanings from improvised and scripted scenes and from theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions

Achievement Standard:

Students describe and analyze the effect of publicity, study guides, programs, and physical environments on audience response and appreciation of dramatic performances Students articulate and support the meanings constructed from their and others' dramatic performances Students use articulated criteria to describe, analyze, and constructively evaluate the perceived effectiveness of artistic choices found in dramatic performances Students describe and evaluate the perceived effectiveness of students' contributions to the collaborative process of developing improvised and scripted scenes

Content Standard #8: Understanding context by analyzing the role of theatre, film, television, and electronic media in the community and in other cultures

Achievement Standard:

Students describe and compare universal characters and situations in dramas from and about various cultures and historical periods, illustrate in improvised and scripted scenes, and discuss how theatre reflects a culture Students explain the knowledge, skills, and discipline needed to pursue careers and avocational opportunities in theatre, film, television, and electronic media Students analyze the emotional and social impact of dramatic events in their lives, in the community, and in other cultures Students explain how culture affects the content and production values of dramatic performances Students explain how social concepts such as cooperation, communication, collaboration, consensus, self-esteem, risk taking, sympathy, and empathy apply in theatre and daily life

The Curriculum Guide
  Constructing History
  Educational Standards
  The Curriculum Activity
  Beginning the Unit
  Exercise One
  Exercise Two
  Exercise Three

References
  Bibliography
  History Standards
  Arts Standards
    Dance
    Music
    Theatre
    Visual Arts

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