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Unit 1: Lesson 8Create & Rehearse Tableaux for Character Clues in Action! Performance

Unit 1

Character Clues in Action!

 

                

 

Common Core State Standards

Arts for Learning is aligned with the Common Core State Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language. This Overview describes the scope of the standards and this Quick Reference Guide provides each of the standards fully or partially met within this A4L Unit, followed by the charts that specifically identify the standards addressed in each lesson and step in the Unit. The standards are also coded and listed at the beginning of each lesson in the unit. Arts for Learning also provides a comprehensive student assessment program in each unit. This A4L Assessment Toolkit Quick Reference Chart indicates an overview of the locations of the tasks to be scored in the unit.
 
Each A4L unit is developed on a common framework and contains a 3-part sequence of instruction that educational research suggests will help students become more self-directed, independent learners. There is a gradual hand-off of responsibility--from teacher to students-- that is supported by assessment and teacher help as needed. Throughout A4L units the arts serve as motive and means to advance reading for meaning and writing thoughtfully.
 
 
 

Part 3

Sharing

Unit 1: Lesson 8

Create & Rehearse Tableaux for Character Clues in Action! Performance

Unit 1: LESSON 8

Create & Rehearse Tableaux for Character Clues in Action! Performance 

 

 

LITERACY OBJECTIVE

By the end of this lesson students will be able to select key moments in a story to share with an audience. Students will be able to communicate their understandings of characters to others through tableaux.

 

LITERACY "I CAN" STATEMENT 

“I can reflect on my talking tableau choices and how they represent characters’ traits and perspectives.”

 

LESSON AT A GLANCE

 

STEPS PACING: 1-3 HOURS

Step 1: Introduce Perform & Inform 

Step 2: Introduce Lesson 8

5 minutes

Step 3: Give an Overview of the Rehearsal Process 

Step 4: Groups Review the Text & Story Map to Plan for Performance

15 minutes

Step 5: Rehearse Talking Tableau for Performance

30 minutes

Step 6: Present & Reflect on Talking Tableaux for Performance

15 minutes

Step 7: Close Lesson 8

 

 

Standards Alignment

 

Targeted CCSS

 

Secondary CCSS

 

 

TEACHING RESOURCES

 

Classroom Charts

 

Texts

 

A4L Student Handbook  

 

Life & Learning Skills

 

  Differentiation Options  

 

  Leveraging Moments

 

 

 

STEP 1: Introduce Perform & Inform

 

 

Process: Review the Unit Overview with students to show them their progress so far. Tell students that in the next series of lessons, they will create and rehearse a Character Clues in Action! performance that they will present to an audience. It's a fun celebration of their detective work finding clues about characters. They will spend time planning, rehearsing, reflecting, refining, and then performing for an audience.

 

  Differentiation Options Scaffolding Theater Skills & Techniques

 

 

 

STEP 2: Introduce Lesson 8

 
 
Process: Give an overview of the lesson objective. Work with reading groups to create a series of talking tableaux for the performance.
 
Suggested Dialogue
 
Intro Dialogue
 
 
 

STEP 3: Give an Overview of the Rehearsal Process

 
 
Process: Tell students how they will rehearse over the next few days. Feel free to adjust the process to support students and to align with selected reading and performance options.
 
Suggested Dialogue
 
Provide an overview of the rehearsal process

 

 

 

STEP 4: Groups Review the Text & Story Map to Plan for Performance

 
 

Process: Assign each group a section of the chapter for the performance or allow groups to choose. Tell students to review the Story Map to refresh their memories of what happened leading up to that part of the story, what's happening in that section, and the characters' traits and perspectives. Tell students to select 1-3 moments in the section for their talking tableaux. Have students think carefully about each moment they will present and why, explaining how it represents the problem and/or the characters and their relationships. Students can begin recording their ideas on the Tableaux Preparation Chart on pages 17-19 in their A4L Student Notebooks.

 

Decide how to use the room--open space, pockets of space, etc. Tell students where to rehearse and to bring their Unit 1 Texts and A4L Student Notebooks for the Story Map and Tableau Preparation Chart.

 
 
 

STEP 5: Create & Rehearse Talking Tableaux for Performance

 
 

Process: Guide groups to create talking tableau. Revisit the Tableau Elements Checklist (see menu below), focusing on creating dynamic stage pictures for an audience. Direct students' attention to the vocal qualities and vocal expression guiding questions to support students in showing what their character or inanimate object is like and what they are thinking and feeling. All students should record their tableau decisions on the Tableau Preparation Chart on pages 17-19 in their A4L Student Notebooks. Some decisions will be made during rehearsal.

 

While groups rehearse, coach them on tableau elements and vocal expression. See the menu below for Teacher Tip: Coaching Student Actors and then use the following Rehearsal Sequence.

 

 

Teaching Tips: Coaching Student Actors & Vocal Expression

 

Rehearsal Sequence

 

Classroom Charts & Graphic Organizers: Guidelines for Talking Tableaux

 

Tableau Elements Checklist

 

Classroom Charts & Graphic Organizers: Vocal Qualities 

 

Teaching Tip: Vocal Expression and Guiding Questions 

 

 

 

STEP 6: Present & Reflect on Talking Tableaux for Performance

 

 

Process: Guide groups to present talking tableau. Begin to coach on projection--speaking with a loud, clear, supported voice for an audience to hear. Until now the unit has focused mostly on the ideas and expression of what characters say. Now that the unit is moving toward performance, students need to practice projection.
 
Create a presentation space with enough room for actors to present. Tell groups the order in which they will present. Cue each group to present its tableau and tap students on the shoulder to cue voice. This time they have three tableaux to present. They may or may not need shoulder tap. In either case, tell students this is the last time they will be shoulder tapped.
 
After each group presents, engage the class in a reflection. Feel free to have students do written reflections using Reflecting on Your/Your Peer's Acting Choices on page 6 in their A4L Student Notebooks and Page 7 prior to class reflection. Reflection focuses on acting choices that tell the story and on revisions that groups can incorporate to make their performances better. Appreciate actors with a unified clap and move on to the next group.
 
Timing for each group to show work and reflect is 3-5 minutes.
 
Suggested Dialogue 
 
Performance Guidelines
 

Reflection Questions

 

Repeat process for remaining groups.

 

 

 

STEP 7: Close Lesson 8

 
 

Process: Close the lesson with a look forward and an optional closing ritual.

 

Vocal Expression Guiding Questions

 

Suggested Dialogue

 

Looking Forward

 

Performing the Closing Ritual (Optional)

 
 
 
 

CONGRATULATIONS ON COMPLETING LESSON 8! YOU ARE NOW READY TO MOVE ONTO LESSON 9 OF UNIT 1.

 
 
 
 

You've now reached the end of our ArtsforLearning Curriculum preview.