Lesson Plan #2: Introduction to Greek Theatre

UTL 640E
Mrs. Watson/ Anderson High School
10th Grade
Date:

October 13, 2015

3&4
Class Period / Time: 6th @11:00 , 8th @ 2:55

Skyla Sale
English II /
Teach(es) #

Lesson Objective(s):
Insmallgroups,studentswillpracticeperformingashortscenefromElfinorderto
increasetheirunderstandingofhowtoappropriatelyengageanaudiencewhen
readingaloud.

Resources/Materials:

A.TODObeforethedayofthelesson:

PrintPracticeReading

MakePowerPointwithSophoclesinformation

MakecopiesofElfreading.

B.Forthelessonitself:

Setupandloadallyoutubevideosbeforeclass

Havecopiesreadytobepassedoutwhennecessary.

Havedesksingroupsof4.

TEKS/SEs Addressed in the Lesson:

KnowledgeandSkills
(4) Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Drama. Students
understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the structure
and elements of drama and provide evidence from text to support their
understanding. Students are expected to analyze how archetypes and
motifs in drama affect the plot of plays.

Steps in Lesson:
ENGAGEMENT (22 min)
-- (10 min) Writing JournalsReflections on Quotes

(7min)TointroduceGreekTheater,IwillshowaquickvideofromDiscovery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSr6mPzxUc

 Duringthisvideo,studentswillfilloutworksheet
(5min)ThenIwillgoonGooglemapsandpullupAthens,Greece(toshowwhere
theseplayswerewidelyperformed)andThebes(whereAntigoneisset).Thenwe
willgetdirectionstoseehowfarawaywearetothatpartoftheworld.
STATED OBJECTIVE (2 min)

Howmanyofyouhaveseenaplay?Letstudentsanswer,allowingthemtosay
whichplaystheyhaveseen.AskaboutTwelfthNight.
Today,wearegoingtostartaveryfamousplayfromGreektheaterAntigone.
TherearemanypartstoaGreekTragedyandoneofthefoundersofthestepswasa
mannamedSophocles.Sophoclesisthepersonquotedforsaying,Thereisno
successwithouthardship,meaninghardwork.Hisplaysarestillrelevanttothemes
wedealwithtoday:loyalty,familyrelations,pride,andtradition.Asaclass,weare
goingtolearnthebasicsofGreekTheater,andbeforewestartreadingtheplay,we
willpracticereadingascriptoutloud.
ACTIVE LEARNING (20 min)

PassoutcopiesofthescriptfromasectionofthemovieElf.
Firstwewillwatchthescenefromthemovieinavideoclipontheboard.
http://www.anyclip.com/movies/elf/prison/
Ingroups,studentswillassignparts(Buddy,Walter,Director,andStageDirector
thesewillallbedescribedoutloud).

In8minutes,thegroupswillhavetoreadanddecidewhatisthebestwaytoperform
thescene.
Instructions:therearefourrolesBuddy,Walter,theDirector,andtheStage
Director.TheDirectorwillsaywhentostop/startandhowenthusiasticthe
charactershouldperform.Thestagedirectorwillsaywherepeopleshouldstand
andusebodymotions.
*Note:Beforetheybeginpracticing,Iwillremindandencouragethestudentstoread
withfeelingsandemphasis.
JustlikeontheWHATARETHOSEvines,iftheguydidntsayitwas
emphasis(sayingWHATARETHOSEagain)thenthevinewouldntbeasfunny.
(7min)NowthatstudentshavepracticedreadingtheElfscript,volunteerswillshow
theclasstheirinterpretationinhopesofbeingthebestperformers.
Beforeperformersgo,wewillmovechairsaroundinacircleformation,justlikethe
audienceinGreekplays.(Thiswillleadintothenextreading,Antigone.)

CLOSURE (7 min)

Ask students to answer the following questions with thumbs up or

thumbs down. Or they can answer on a continuum, such as highly
agree or agree somewhat if they back up the answer.
1. It is a parents job to care for his/her child more than for
him/herself.
2. Children should be loyal to their parents no matter what the cost.
3. Siblings may be justified in harming each other with words or
actions.
4. Children are fated to carry on their parents legacies, be they bad
or good.
5. Families forgive, period.
NEXT INTRO

LastlybeforeIhandoverthelessonandthestudentsstartreading,Iwilldoaquick
reviewaboutthetwopreviousstoriesintheOedipustrilogy.Wewillwatchthis2minute
clip(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA1_QZxvRyo)andthenIllexplainitalittle
more.
Oedipusisprophesizedtokillhisfatherandmarryhismother.Hewasadoptedso
whenhekillsamanintheroad,hedidntrealizeitwashisactualfather.
Meanwhile,hehasmarriedtheformerqueen,whohappenstobehismother.
Beforerealizingthis,thetwohave4children[twoboysandtwogirls,onebeing
Antigone].Thenthetwosonsaresupposedtosharethekingdom,butonebetrays
theother,andtheyendupkillingeachother.InwalksPart3,Antigone.)
Totalteachingtime:55minutes

Modifications/Differentiation Strategies:
Forthereadaloud,Iwillaskforvolunteersinsteadofchoosingpeoplesonoone
feelsuncomfortable.
WhentalkingaboutGreece,Iwillbeshowingamapandpicturessothestudentscan
visualizetheplacesIamtalkingabout.TherewillbepicturesonmyPowerPointas
well.

Evaluation Strategies:
Aftermylesson,studentswillbeginreadingAntigoneoutloudtheywillbeevaluated
ontheirperformancevoicesandtheirenthusiasmbasedontheirintroductionlessonon
GreekTheatre.

Notes/Recommendations for next time:

Thislessonwentreallysmoothly.

Dontusecaptionsontheyoutubevideobecausetheydontwatchthewords.
Alsotheworksheetwasalittletoointensivebutitdidhelp.