Learning Goals

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

  • Demonstrate the elements Role & Character by creating statues reflecting different emotions
  • Express our thoughts and feelings on the drama activities we participated in today
  • Participate in role-play activities and improvise short conversations by listening and reacting to our classmates
Materials
  • Markers
  • Chart paper/white board
  • PDF #2 Drama Checklist
Terminology

Minds On

Whole Class > Count to 10 (try again!)

Repeat the Count to 10 activity from the previous lesson. Ask students to form a circle. The goal of the game is to have the students count to 10, without having two people say the same number at the same time. Each person can only say one number. If two or more people talk at the same time, restart the count from the beginning (back to one). Anybody can start off the count. You can start to show the students how the game begins. Allow several attempts before pausing the activity. 

Key questions for discussion:

  • Have we made it to 10 yet?
  • Describe how you’re feeling in one word.
  • In what ways have we been successful so far?
  • What do you suggest we try to be even more successful? 
  • Is it okay if we don’t make it to 10 today?

If they successfully count to 10, congratulate them enthusiastically! Challenge them to count to 15 or 20 next time. Revisit this activity frequently to encourage collective success and encouragement.

Whole Class > Gifts

Ask the class to form a circle. Brainstorm possible occasions for gift-giving beforehand. As a group, you could explore gift-giving customs in students’ families.

One player is chosen to begin. They mime the size and weight of a gift that they give to another person in the circle. Players can accompany the gift with vocabulary like "Happy birthday!” or “Congratulations!” The second player receives the gift, acknowledging the size and weight in their reaction. They mime unwrapping the gift and say "Thank you for this ...!" Optional: The first player responds by explaining why they chose the gift they did. See the conversation example below. The players trade places and now the giftee travels to another student in the circle with a new gift and new exchange.

Example:

Student A: Congratulations on your graduation! I got you something. [mimes giving a large heavy gift]

Student B: [mimes unwrapping the gift] Thank you so much for this television!

Student A: I know that you've missed a lot of shows while you were at school, so now you can catch up!

Action

Whole Class > Move and Freeze

Instruct the students to move around the general space of the room freely, going in any direction they wish in a quiet, relaxed manner. Remind them that students should not be talking to or touching each other

As they are traveling, continue to give direction. Teacher Prompt: move quickly, slowly, change direction etc. When I call “freeze”, you freeze in your positions.

Next, direct students to add an emotion to the movement (e.g., happy, sad, angry, bored).  Encourage students to incorporate their whole bodies when reflecting the emotion, not just show it on their face. Call “freeze” and ask students to freeze in a position that demonstrates that emotion. 

Incorporate use of levels in a final round of the activity. Frozen positions might be low to the ground, middle height, or as high as the students might reach. Begin by coaching students to try different levels, then allow students to choose their own.

Extension: if you would like to continue with drama, movement, and emotions, you could use the “Dance My Feelings” lesson plan from CODE for more activities and exercises.

Consolidation

Whole Class > Spaghetti 

Ask the students to brainstorm various emotions and character traits. Record and display these for student reference. 

Examples of emotions or character traits:

  • Angry
  • Shy
  • Heroic
  • Excited
  • Bored
  • Amazed
  • Cool
  • Confident
  • Disappointed
  • Giant
  • Sad
  • Confused
  • Contented
  • Magical
  • Strange
  • Unbelievable
  • Superhero
  • Intelligent
  • Party animal
  • Slow motion

Invite the students to form a large circle. For this activity, students will be saying the word “spaghetti” using different vocal tones and emotions. Begin as a whole group. Call out an emotion (e.g., nervous, sad, confused etc.) and encourage all players to move to the center of the circle and say “spaghetti” in unison. 

Next, ask each student to choose a specific emotion or character trait. One at a time, the students will say the word “spaghetti” focusing on their chosen emotion (e.g., they will say spaghetti angrily if their chosen emotion is anger). Continue around the circle until each student has had a chance to say spaghetti.

Assessment for Learning (AfL)
  • Use PDF #2 Drama Checklist to make observational notes about your students’ ability to adjust their expression to reflect certain emotions.