Drama - All Classes 1-26-2016

GAME DAY!

In honor of their hard work and patience with the changes of this year, we celebrated our last regular class with games for the whole period!  Some classes played Night of the Museum, Telephone, Everyone Who..., 10 seconds, Waiting Room, Indian Chief, and Grandmother!  All the games are enjoyable while giving the children a chance to develop skills such as: listening, following directions, focusing, teamwork, quick thinking, and patience!
I look forward to electives next week.  I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the children in this capacity.

Drama -Explorers/Trailblazers 1-19-2016

In the final classes I had with the entire FAITH community, it was my goal to cover some basics!  Understanding character, developing character, and creating character was the focus for this week.  The concept of character was difficult for this group to grasp, however, they did a fantastic job following instructions and creating emotions with limited use of their body.  We learned that eyes and shoulders can be extremely important in creating mood and character.  We also learned that it is much easier to create a character with your whole body available!

Drama - Explorers/Trailblazers 1-12-2016

Last week, I introduced the children to a brief history of drama and theater.  We reviewed that history and learned a new component of drama.  Storytelling is essential to any good theater or drama piece.  I read that theater is like telling a good story live!  I appreciate that definition because everyone likes a good story!  During class we warmed up with some super fun tongue twisters and brainstormed a list of items that make up a good story.  Character, plot, setting, imagination/creativity, problem, and resolution were defined and discussed.  We finished the class by breaking into groups, writing and acting out our original stories!  This activity was extremely challenging.  I appreciated the focus and attention the children gave to the project.  They were able to create some fun ideas and put them into action in a very short time!

Drama - Trailblazers 1/5/2016

Welcome back!  It was great nice to be back in classes today.
For the next 4 weeks we will be studying the basics of the history of drama and the theater as well as practicing some essential elements of acting and performing.

Ancient Egyptians used plays, and elaborately staged events to honor their pagan gods.  From around 2500 BC to 550 BC, a passion play was performed annually representing the death and resurrection of the god Osiris. This passion play is the first recorded example of theatre.

We typically associate the beginning of theater to be with Ancient Greece around 600 BC.  The event recorded from this time was related to a religious festival to honor their god Dionysus.  Dionysus, like many pagan gods, was thought to be a god of wine and fertility.

Hoping to help the children gain perspective about the time period we were discussing we talked briefly about Abraham (2150 BC) and Daniel (586 BC).  I find it easier to relate years to familiar Biblical stories when thinking about so long ago.

After the snapshot on history that provided a background for where some of our theater practices come from I read several Bible verses that can help us determine if what we are thinking, saying, or doing is honoring to God.  I wanted to convey the message that even though theater originated in pagan worship that we have an opportunity to use our gifts, talents, and hobbies to honor God.

Questions we answered...
Why were we made?
Why do we exist?
What are the fruits of the Spirit and how can we use them to honor God?
What gifts or talents has God given you to be used for his glory?

Genesis 1:26-31 various sections
Psalm 139:14 ...you are fearfully and wonderfully made
Isaiah 24:15
Romans 8:28-30
Matthew 28:18-20
2 Corinthians 4:5-6
Ephesians 1:12-14

Activities: Decorated paper Greek masks, played drama games "Everyone who..." and "Rhyme Charades"

Drama - Trailblazers 12/1/2015

Today was devoted to perfecting the skit in preparation for Tuesday.  We had time left over at the end for a game! So fun!  I am pleased with the children and their ability to take direction and be flexible! 

One reminder for Tuesday - Slow down!  Speak up!

Nice job on Tuesday!

Drama - 11/17/2015 Trailblazers

You are moving along quite nicely on the performance piece for the 8th!  Each child was sent home with a piece of green paper and a piece of white paper.  Please be sure to fill in the letters as instructed and bring them back with you on December 1.  We will finish assembling them and use them for rehearsal!  Thank you for your hard work and diligence today! 
Costumes for this class = Solid dark bottoms and a red or green top. (no need to wear them for the 1st, just on the 8th:))

Drama Summary Explorers and Pathfinders, 1/6/2015

The class periods were taken up with memory refreshment and rehearsal for the performance next week.  I was amazed at how well the students remembered their lines and blocking.  We are looking forward to an entertaining presentation next week.

Drama 12/2/14. Explorers & Trailblazers

Our drama classes were held in the Sanctuary this week, in order to rehearse onstage for our Presentation next week.  I looked at costumes and props and made adjustments where necessary.  Many of the children had brought great costumes.  I told the students they really need to review their lines every day this week, as we will not be able to have a rehearsal before the performance next week.  They are all very excited for their parents to get to see the results of their hard work.

Drama 11/11/14. Explorers & Trailblazers

Rehearsing was the name of the game in class this week.  Line memorization was quite good in both classes, but review is vital, or they can be forgotten.  Also, knowing the line right before theirs is very important as well.  For the most part, the students seemed to understand how important it is, and left class saying they would be diligent to do so.  They have been working hard and promise to deliver a most delightful performance.

Drama 11/4/14 Explorers & Trailblazers

We have turned a corner in class this week, in that we now must spend the entire period rehearsing our December presentations.  The Explorers are working on an Immigration scene that, I believe, will be highly entertaining.   The students are putting in great effort and have done quite well with their memorization.  The Trailblazers are rehearsing scenes about the progression of Black History.  They have also completely embraced their characters and are adding their own creativity, which makes the rehearsals delightful.   Finishing their memorization work and reviewing their lines daily is very important at this time.

Drama 10/21/14. Explorers & Trailblazers

The warm-up exercise for the Trailblazers and Explorers this week was an activity where they assembled scenes from their history lessons with themselves!  The favorite for both classes seemed to be the California Gold Rush, as they each became a part of a scene from that time and froze, as if in a photograph.  After the vocal excercise, the Trailblazers worked on signs for their silent scenes.  The Explorers worked on Emotions and how to change from one to another in a believable way.  They then practiced how to act different ethnic groups in preparation for the Immigration scenes they will begin working on next week.

Drama. 10/14. Explorers & Trailblazers

The warm-up exercise this week was building a rainstorm with sounds produced with our hands.  We sat in a circle and started a sound, with each child joining in after the person on their right.  It was extremely challenging to wait to start on one's turn.  The sound of the full circle was very close to the sound of a storm!  The children practiced vocal exercises, working on projection and articulation.Then the Explorers worked on a short scene called Humpty Dumpty.  Partner groups rehearsed and then performed for each other.  This activity was to get them used to doing scenes being a character inter-relating in a pretend situation.  Ask your child to tell you about it.  It proved to be a delightful exercise.  The Trailblazers fine tuned their Silent Scene.  The students have really taken their roles seriously and put in effort thinking through their characters and motions to make the scene understandable and fun to watch.

Drama 10/7. Explorers & Trailblazers

Our beginning activity was a fun game called Bippety Bop to warm up each class and give them practice to think on their feet.  Tongue twisters was our next task, working on articulation and projection.  The majority of the class period was taken up with rehearsal on the scenes we are working on presently.  The Explorers are memorizing and polishing "All Gods Chillun".  The Trailblazers are working hard on their characters in a silent scene about the Inventors.  Both classes are a delight to watch, portraying their characters with great fervor and creativity.

Drama 9/30/2014, Explorers & Trailblazers

We started with warm up activities for creativity and voice.  The students seemed to thoroughly enjoy dramatically dying.  In both classes we are working on a dramatic piece of specific historic events.  The Explorers are practicing a dramatic interpretation of the Negro Spiritual "All God's Chillun's Got Wings".  The Trailblazers have each been assigned an inventor to portray in a "Silent Scene" which is taking a lot of (fun) work to put together.  Both classes have enthusiastic, eager participation!

Drama 9/23/2014, Trailblazers & Explorers

The Purpose of Learning Drama

There were several segments to class, this week.  We began discussing why we learn and practice drama skills and what value performances could have.  The students seemed to have a good understanding, after the discussion, of how dramatic performance is a form of communication.  When it is done well, it is an effective venue for communicating anything you want.  We practice so we can do it well!

After working on skills, we practiced the first performance pieces they will be working on.  The Explorers will be rehearsing a dramatic interpretation of the Negro Spiritual "All God's Chillun's Got Wings".  The Trailblazers began working on a Silent Scene (pantomime) of The Wright Brothers and other Inventors.  It will be performed to music.

Explorers and Trailblazers Drama 9/16/2014

It was a joy to finally be able to meet all the students and see how they connected with Drama activities.  Every class has its own personality and creativity, and they were delightful to work with.

Once again our focus was on practicing skills.  We spent time working on the vocal skills of projection and articulation with the first phrases of The Pledge of Allegiance.  Then we worked on movement and creative thinking with pantomime activities and character walking.

Drama - Period B - 1/28/14

  Today in class the children went through preliminary auditions for drama.  We discussed the importance of volume, cooperation and dramatic presentation before,during & after this exercise. Afterwards we attempted to play cooperation & listening games which included a lot of laughter. Next week we will be assigning roles for the April presentation.  

Drama 2 - 1/21/14

Last week we took some time to come up with a list of our favorite games from the year.  This week we were able to play two of them!  The kids voted to enjoy another round of "shoe box" and "two person skits".  We had a lot of fun with our imagination in both!  Also, we did a lightening round of remembering some of the things from the classes over that last 15 weeks.  Lots of enthusiasm and great memories!

Drama 2,3,4 - 1/14/14

This week we culminated in the start of American theater!  The first theater building was built in 1715 in Williamsburg, VA!  During the American Revolution the Continental congress (following suit of many states already) banned theater.  While their motives many have been war effort related, some of the individual states cited religious reasons.  Despite this, the first professional theater company came into being in New York in 1756!

Along with our last look at the history of theater during our time period, we also discussed the need to be vigilant about what we let into our active imaginations!  All theater is not good or good for us.  God has given us the gift of imagination and theater is a wonderful way to use it!  We live in a world that can easily turn God's blessings into something else, stay aware and enjoy the blessing of good theater!

Drama 2,3,4 - 1/6/14

This week we explored the world behind the scenes of the theater!  We discussed the many jobs that need to be done in order for a production to put on the stage.  Along with this, the responsibilities of each job. There are many opportunities to work in any or all of these areas in most theaters.  We talked about the need for duel roles (actor and lighting crew, or costumer and stage hand) in most local theaters.

For a game we enjoyed using some scrapes from my sewing bag to create some fun characters!  Ask the kids about some of the funny people Mrs. Baggs created ;)  This was an opportunity to feel how even just a small piece of a costume can bring out a character!