Speech and Theater Arts

Student Assessment: Every unit of instruction begins with an informal assessment of each student -- and of the group as a whole -- to observe and evaluate their current understandings and abilities. This assessment includes general subject matter, its vocabulary and terminology, students' direct experience with the subject, as well as relevant or applied experience with the subject.  

Performance:

•    The human instrument -- Identifying how the body, breath, voice, emotions and the uses of imagination are essential aspects of a performer's instrument
•    Explore the many ways to use the human instrument -- through exercises that expand and deepen their understanding of performing and how to appreciate and use the freedom of imagination
•    Grade-appropriate, warm-up and cooldown exercises-- to foster greater group trust and collaboration
•    Explore and share relaxation techniques
•    Theater Games (also known as Theater Sports) to discover different ways to identify and demonstrate our feelings, build team trust, and develop a common language among the students, and to explore nonverbal and verbal modes of effective communication
•    Introduction to Improvisation -- solo, duo and trio exercises to develop listening and empathy skills , and fostering confidence to respond spontaneously
•    Language Skills --  Memorize and perform poetry in solo, duo, trio, and ensemble formats

Writing & Devising:

•    Develop theater scripting and stagecraft terminology
•    Creating Characters -- Using improvisation to create characters and develop original monologues and dialogs with a basic problem/solution format
•    Introduction to Interview Technique to build characters and text
•    Introduction to Story Structure -- Identifying beginning, middle and end, goals and obstacles, conflict, uncertainty, and resolution
•    Synthesizing Memory & Imagination -- Develop, rehearse and perform student-led interpretations and 

Media Awareness:

•    Introduction to vocabulary of media such as: scene, shot, dialog, editing, costume, etc.
•    Deconstruct media and identify its separate components and discuss the effect they have on the piece and their intended influence on the viewer
•    Making Media & Messages -- Using storyboards as script, students write and perform a live commercial for products of their own invention that solve a current world problem

Student Assessment: Every unit of instruction begins with informal assessment of each student -- and of the group as a whole -- to observe and evaluate their current understandings and abilities. This assessment will include general subject matter, its vocabulary and terminology, students' direct experience with the subject, as el as relevant or applied experience with the subject.
 

Performance
• Introduction to Method acting -- building character realities from a place of inner truth
• Improvisation -- solo, duo and trio exercises to develop listening and empathy skills, and fostering confidence to respond spontaneously
 

Writing & Devising
• Speech and debate -- Students will begin practicing impromptu speaking and debate techniques and explore expository and persuasive writing
 

Media Awareness
• Making Media & Messages -- Students write, develop and perform a commercial for a product of their own invention that solves a current social problem
 

Grades -- will be assigned to show improvement and attention to four categories:
• Performance - the actor realizes a performance of genuine artistry; with effective and original character choices, skillful use of physical and vocal instrument, sensitive partner/ensemble playing, and the ability to take direction
• Rehearsal Skills - the actor rehearses with sustained energy and self-discipline; maintains focus and makes steady and timely progress toward performance goals. When stage managing or observing the work of others, the student follows the scene closely and "has the actor's back" at all times.
• Vocal Expression - the actor demonstrates vocal skills - clear diction, a variety in pitch and sufficient volume. Vocal choices express character and drama.
• Physical Expression - the actor demonstrates physical skills - a fully active body and gestures appropriate to character and situation

The Sixth Grade Speech and Theater Arts Class will begin the semester learning techniques and history of comic performance. Students will research and present their findings via Google Slideshow. They will then write and perform comedic scenes and monologues using different elements of comedy.

Next the class will do a spoken reading of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM by Shakespeare, followed by memorizing and performing scenes and monologues from the play.
 

Finally, we will memorize, rehearse and perform short plays for a school video production. Performances will include focus on physical and vocal performance skills.
 

Grades will be assigned to show improvement and attention to four basic acting categories and class behavior / participation:
• Performance - the actor realizes a performance of genuine artistry; with effective and original character choices, skillful use of physical and vocal instrument, and sensitive partner/ensemble playing.
• Rehearsal Skills - the actor rehearses with sustained energy and self-discipline; maintains focus and makes steady and timely progress toward performance goals. When stage managing or observing the work of others the student follows the scene closely and "has the actor's back" at all times.
• Vocal Expression - the actor demonstrates vocal skills - clear diction, a variety in pitch and sufficient volume. Vocal choices express character and drama.
• Physical Expression - the actor demonstrates physical skills - a fully active body and gestures appropriate to character and situation.

The Seventh Grade Speech and Theater Arts Class will begin the semester with online impromptu speaking exercises then begin writing and performing their own solo monologues.
 

Next the class will do a spoken reading of MACBETH by Shakespeare, followed by memorizing and performing scenes and monologues from the play.
 

Rehearsals (online or otherwise) will begin with short plays that will be fully memorized, performed and recorded for a school video production. Performances will include focus on physical and vocal performance skills.
 

Grades will be assigned to show improvement and attention to four basic categories:
• Performance - the actor realizes a performance of genuine artistry; with effective and original character choices, skillful use of physical and vocal instrument, and sensitive partner/ensemble playing.
• Rehearsal Skills - the actor rehearses with sustained energy and self-discipline; maintains focus and makes steady and timely progress toward performance goals. When stage managing or observing the work of others the student follows the scene closely and "has the actor's back" at all times.
• Vocal Expression - the actor demonstrates vocal skills - clear diction, a variety in pitch and sufficient volume. Vocal choices express character and drama.
• Physical Expression - the actor demonstrates physical skills - a fully active body and gestures appropriate to character and situation.

The Eighth Grade Speech and Theater Arts Class will begin the semester with online impromptu speaking exercises then begin writing and performing their own solo monologues.

Next the class will do a spoken reading of TWELFTH NIGHT by Shakespeare, followed by memorizing and performing scenes and monologues from the play.
 

Rehearsals (online or otherwise) will begin with short plays that will be fully memorized, performed and recorded for a school video production. Performances will include focus on physical and vocal performance skills.
 

Grades will be assigned to show improvement and attention to four basic categories:
• Performance - the actor realizes a performance of genuine artistry; with effective and original character choices, skillful use of physical and vocal instrument, and sensitive partner/ensemble playing.
• Rehearsal Skills - the actor rehearses with sustained energy and self-discipline; maintains focus and makes steady and timely progress toward performance goals. When stage managing or observing the work of others the student follows the scene closely and "has the actor's back" at all times.
• Vocal Expression - the actor demonstrates vocal skills - clear diction, a variety in pitch and sufficient volume. Vocal choices express character and drama.
• Physical Expression - the actor demonstrates physical skills - a fully active body and gestures appropriate to character and situation.