This is an activity that was implemented in an English through Drama classroom as a
frontloading exercise for William Shakespeares Macbeth. Critical Learning Objectives: SWBAT: Cognitive (know/understand): Students will understand that actors act lines, not simply say them. Affective (feel/value) and/or Non-Cognitive: Students will value the appropriate behavior for an audience. Performance (do): Students will be able to perform lines from Macbeth. Procedures/Instructional Strategies [Note: Any words that represent what I would say directly to students appear in italics.] Beginning Room Arrangement: Students are arranged around a conference table, with the projector screen at its head. 1. [5 mins.] Opening to lesson: Warm Up - Pass out Macbeth quote cards to each student. Instruct the students to not share their cards with their classmates. - Stand in a circle. - Get a feel of your card. What is it saying? - All together, everyone will say their quote out loud. - Are there some words that you do not understand? 2. [5 mins.] Step 1: Round One - Students will walk around the room, approaching each student and read them their card. The other student will return the favor. 3. [15 mins.] Step 2: How to Perform a Line - Explain to the students that actors do not just walk around the room saying lines. They act them. - Stand in a circle again and say your line out loud with as much gusto as possible. This should be done all together. - Partner with someone and talk about what someone would do if they were performing this line. What voice would they use? What gesture? What body language? - Practice performing the line with the gesture and voice the student picked 4. [10 mins.] Step 3: Performances - Another round of going around the room, only this time the students will be performing their lines to each other. - Each student will perform their line in front of the classroom. - Each student should applaud after each performance.
5. [5 mins] Closure: Macbeth
- Discussion: from what you have been exposed to today, what do you think Macbeth is about? What are some predictions you have?