Learning Goals

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • use the myth of Persephone as a source to generate and focus ideas for original choral speaking presentations
  • use characterization to explore personal and social issues through writing in role
  • use a choral speaking techniques and props/costumes (if available) to enhance the impact of their choral speaking presentation to convince Zeus and Demeter to take action
  • demonstrate understanding of the role of the Greek chorus
Materials
  • Appendix 4 Chant for Rain
  • Appendix 6 Resources for Greek Theatre (optional: develop a handout or note about Greek chorus)
  • Choral Speaking Techniques & Checklist (see CODE's Choral Speaking resource)

Minds On

Whole Class > Choral Speaking

  • Introduce a sample choral piece (see Appendix 4 Chant for Rain). Review basic choral techniques, such as call and response, unison, round, echo, crescendo, etc.
  • Split students into a “Call” and a “Response” group and try reading the sample piece chorally as practice.

Action

Small Groups > Creating Poetry

  • Form students into groups of 5-6 people. They should sit in a circle with pens and one piece of paper.
  • Students write from the perspective of the people of the Physical World who are suffering. They are stuck in perpetual winter because of Demeter’s neglect. They should pay attention to the senses in their writing: What do they see, hear, smell, touch, taste in this world of perpetual winter?
  • Person A begins by writing one line of poetry describing winter. They then pass to the next Person B, who reads the first line and adds a second. Person B then folds the paper down to cover the first line only and passes to Person C, who adds a line and folds the paper down, so that only one preceding line is visible at a time. Continue around the circle for about 6-10 lines in total.
  • Ask students to unfold their papers and read their poems of winter aloud.

Small Groups > Preparing Poetry

  • Students create Choral Speaking presentations of their poems, using some of the techniques outlined during the warm-up exercise.

Consolidation

Whole Class > Introducing the Greek Chorus

  • Introduce some facts about the function of the chorus in Greek Drama, either through a handout or on the blackboard (see Appendix 6). The chorus often acted as a narrator, voicing the inner thoughts of the characters in the play.

Small Groups > Presenting Poems of Winter to Zeus and Demeter

  • Tell students that their choral speaking should voice the thoughts of the people of the Physical World telling Demeter how their lives have been affected by this perpetual winter.
  • Groups form their own Greek choruses and stage their poems for Zeus and Demeter. Use masks, robes, or other props, if they are available.
  • The groups present their poems of winter and appoint a Zeus and Demeter to watch the presentations.
Assessment for Learning (AfL)

Suggestions:

  • Choral Speaking Checklist (see CODE's Choral Speaking resource)
  • Use anecdotal records about stages of the creative process and/or characterization as students generate their poem and their presentation
  • Exit cards about the role of the Greek chorus
Assessment as Learning (AaL)
  • Encourage students to use established success criteria for choral speaking techniques as a reference while creating their presentations
  • Exit cards about the role of the Greek chorus
Assessment of Learning (AoL)

Suggestion:

  • If students have previously engaged with the techniques of choral speaking, you may wish to co-create a single-point rubric to assess their performances.