Drama Bits

Egyptian Social Pyramid

Lesson Summary

Students studied the social pyramid of Ancient Egyptian culture. To emphasize the differences in social roles, groups of students created a short skit showing the cultural practices of a given class. Students incorporated gender roles, beliefs, customs, traditions, and daily life activities to help explain the ancient class structure.

Arts Benchmark

Connections, Relationships and Applications

B. Explain the relationship between concepts and skills used in drama/theatre with other curricular subjects.

Indicator: Use dramatic/theatrical skills to communicate concepts or ideas from other academic content areas.

Academic Benchmark

Peoples in Societies

A. Compare cultural practices, products and perspectives of past civilizations in order to understand commonality and diversity of cultures.

Indicator: Compare the cultural practices and products of the societies studied including: a. class structure; b. gender roles; c. beliefs; d. customs and traditions.

Buddha and the Five Visitors

Lesson Summary

Students have studied Buddhism and its impact on ancient Chinese culture. Students will read the play, “The Buddha and the Five Visitors,” from the book 24 Exciting Plays for Ancient History Classes. Seven select students will practice and perform the play in front of the class. Students will identify characters used in traditional plays as personified in this short play. The class will then interpret the characters and their relationships and how their interactions (both verbal and non-verbal) lead to a deeper understanding of the Buddhist philosophy.

Arts Benchmark

Analyzing and Responding

B. Discuss the collaborative nature of drama/theater as a vehicle for the expression of ideas.

Indicator: Differentiate between character types and relationships.

Academic Benchmark

People in Societies

A. Compare cultural practices, products and perspectives of past civilizations in order to understand commonality and diversity of cultures.

Indicator: Compare the cultural practices and products of the societies studied including a. class structure; b. gender roles; c. beliefs; d. customs and traditions [6A1]

Glorious Government?

Lesson Summary

In small groups, students will reenact a situation based on a type of government assigned to the group.

Situation: “Your group has to perform as skit for the class. You are to pretend that a new school has just been built and your group has to decide what to include in the play area. In your skit, the group has to function as if they were a(n) democracy (monarchy, dictatorship, anarchy.)”

Arts Benchmark

Connections, Relationships and Applications

B. Explain the relationship between concepts and skills used in drama/theatre with other curricular subjects.

Indicator: Use dramatic/theatrical skills to communicate concepts or ideas from other academic content areas.

Academic Benchmark

Government

C. Compare the defining characteristics of democracies, monarchies, and dictatorships.

Indicator: Describe the defining characteristics of democracies, monarchies, and dictatorships.