Lesson: Theater Etiquette & Pantomime

Lesson Summary: Using Pantomime as a device to introduce Theater

Etiquette in two forms; audience and actors.
Standards Addressed:
Standards listed here in the format: 1.6, 1.7, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.9, 5.10, 5.11,

Mastery Objective: SWBAT use basic elements of pantomime to present

and critique classmates in the Drama classroom, on stage and at theatrical
performances in and outside of class using proper etiquette as an actor
and audience member.
Learning Objective:
Students will be able to:

Begin to use the basic skills of pantomime

Participate as both performers and audience members
Present their understanding of Theatre Etiquette through the use of pantomime

Students will know:

What Theatre Etiquette is and why it is important within a Theatre setting or a Drama classroom
The basic skills of pantomime
How to give and receive respectful critique

Materials:

Laptop
LCD
Seating Tickets for the Theatre:

Greet students at the door as a theater usher and give them a ticket
Warm-Up:Stand Up/Sit Down (Have you ever been to: A major sporting event, live theatre performance, opera, dance
performance)
Bring the class into the theater.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Different Theaters/Different Etiquette--Through Pantomime have the class show the differences between
sitting in a theater at an assembly, sporting event, rally, etc. Use locations from list above)
Show video on examples of Good vs. Bad Theatre Etiquette
Pantomime Pass--Gift Bag and each student takes an item out of the gift bag and pantomime the object.
Discuss Actors Etiquette
Split class into two groups. Each group will create a brief pantomime scene showing good and then bad
actor etiquette. (Scene theme could incorporate the gift bag). Groups present to each other taking turns as
actors and audience.

Using Theater Tickets as Exit Tickets--Three things you learned about Etiquette, Two Things you already knew and
One thing you want to know?
What? So What? Now What?

Lesson: Mask Making

Lesson Summary: Students will create a mask based on a character from
current ELA novel & bring their masks to life using pantomime.
Standards Addressed:
Standards listed here in the format: 1.3, 1.6, 1.7, 1.13, 5.9. 5.10, 5.11

Mastery Objective:
SWBAT: Explore the origins of theatre through hands on creation of character mask based on current ELA reading
unit. Characters will be brought to life in Part 2 via pantomime.

Learning Objective:
Students will be able to:

Create masks based on characters from novels they are currently reading in their ELA classes
Use their skills of pantomime to bring their masks to life

Students will know:

A brief overview of Theatre origins and the origin of masque work

How to create a mask for a character of their choosing from a current ELA assigned novel

Materials:

Paper Plates
Glue Sticks
Multi colored construction paper
Pipe cleaners
Scissors
Drying space (coat hangers, clothespins)
Exit tickets

Day 1 of 2 :
Greet students at the door
Warm-Up: Pass the face (like pass the stretch but with different faces, e.g. happy, sad, angry...ect)
Origins of Theater Masks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyQFtJfOonI
Class Discussion about characters from novels. Each student chooses a character to create a mask.
Using prepared stations students are given a time limit to create a mask using supplies available.
Students hang masks to dry.
Exit Ticket--Three things you know about your character, Two things you learned about Mask Making and One
adjective to describe your characters expression.
Day 2 of 2:
Greet students at the door
Warm-up: Adjective Walk
Get Masks and working in small groups, introduce your character to the rest of the group.
Each group creates a pantomime or scene that takes place at a train station. Time to rehearse and then present to
the rest of the class, Theater Etiquette and Critique .
Exit Ticket--Three things I know about working with a group. Two things I learned about acting with a mask. One
thing I still have a question about.

Lesson: Fables Brought to Life

Lesson Summary: Story Drama using Fables as the source material.
Standards Addressed:
Standards listed here in the format: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 1.7, 1.13, 2.4, 5.9. 5.10, 5.11

Mastery Objective: SWBAT interpret fables, their characters, story

structure and bring them to life with voice and movement.
Learning Objective:
Students will be able to:

Read/ listen to and recognize fables and their morals

Bring fables they have read or heard to life in class
Practice skills of theatre etiquette as both actors and audience members

Students will know:

How to adapt stories from the page to a performance

How to work collaboratively with group members to bring a story to life

Materials:

Storybook of fables or packet of fables and questions

Greet students at the door

Warm-Up: Have students race, normal speed and then slow motion/ red light green light/ living museum
1.

2.

Working in small groups each group is given a fable to bring to life. Groups may choose to act out the entire
scene themselves or have one member of the group, or the teacher, act as a narrator and read the fable as
the others act it out.
Present to the class, using Theater Etiquette and Critique skills.

Exit Ticket--Three things they know about Fables, Two things they know about working in a group and one thing they
enjoyed.

Lesso: Puppetry
Lesson Summary:Students will learn about different types of puppets and
how to manipulate them.
Standards Addressed:
Standards listed here in the format: 5.9. 5.10, 5.11, 1.3, 1.6, 1.8, 1.10,

Mastery Objective: SWBAT understand the various forms of puppets, the history of puppetry in
theatre and how to give puppets life.

Learning Objective:
Students will be able to:

Bring puppets to life with story

Learn to effectively give life, voice and breath to their puppet
Recognize skill set of puppeteers

Students will know:

The different types of puppets (hand, finger, shadow, sock, marionettes, large scale, cultural puppets)
How puppets are manipulated

Materials:

Puppet stations with various kinds of puppets for students to explore: finger, hand, marionette, oobie eyes,
large scale
Laptop and LCD
Video clips of Lion King, Seasame Street, Henson Studios, Cultural puppetry.
Jim Henson, The World of Puppetry http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/The_World_of_Puppetry
TED Talk: The Genius Puppetry behind War
Horse https://www.ted.com/talks/handpring_puppet_co_the_genius_puppetry_behind_war_horse?language
=en

Greet students at the door

Warm-Up: Puppet Master (like Clay Bodies) Working with a partner take turns playing puppet and puppeteer.