High School Block:
Dramatic Arts 110 / 120
Dramatic Arts 110 is an introductory course designed for any learner interested in developing skills related to creativity, performance, and production. This course is highly participatory and requires consistent attendance to facilitate the development of collaborative projects and learner engagement in new experiences.
Dramatic Arts 120 is a course that assumes an enhanced level of theatrical experience. Successful completion of Dramatic Arts 110 is highly encouraged, but not required. In collaboration with their educator and peers, learners are encouraged to direct their learning and decide how to demonstrate the acquisition of skills. Learners will collect evidence of learning and expand upon the skills acquired in Dramatic Arts 110.
Dramatic Arts is a performance-based course designed to encourage learners to develop their dramatic skills through exposure to a variety of challenges and opportunities that require creative and higher-order thinking skills. In each course, learners will be required to work individually, independently, in small groups, and in larger ensembles. Projects and research activities are encouraged to be activity-based experiential learning. Learners are expected to engage with a wide range of dramatic conventions and styles to create, analyze, conduct research, and perform. Educators are expected to engage with multiple forms of dramatic conventions rather than focus on a singular aspect of theatre.
In Dramatic Arts 120, learners will be expected to have more involvement and ownership of their learning and subsequent assessment. Learners may be required to work outside of the classroom (including individual/ensemble practice and studio rehearsal) due to the many and varied manifestations of theatre activities. Learners are also strongly encouraged to participate in extracurricular and community-based opportunities.
The content of this course requires an educator who is knowledgeable in a variety of performance and dramatic genres. It is recommended that the course is facilitated by an educator with expertise and/or experience in the dramatic arts.
For Educators:
CONTEXTS AND CONCEPTS
Create
Strategies
- Develop techniques and processes for voice and movement.
Technical Skill
- Develop skill beyond the “performance”.
Terminology
Use the language of dramatic arts.
Connect
Deconstruction and Analysis
- Examine the importance of dramatic arts to culture
Communicate
Active Observation (110)
- Learning how to observe for the purpose of providing feedback.
Active Analysis (120)
- Learning how to observe for the purpose of analysis.
Feedback
- Develop skill in crafting critical responses
Strand: Create
Big Idea: Strategies
Skill Descriptor: Practice and consistently implement voice and movement techniques.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Demonstrate strategies to embody characters physically and vocally.
- Make choices appropriate to the context of the character, scene, or dramatic work.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of physical and vocal warmups before performance.
Skill Descriptor: Practice and consistently implement dramatic conventions.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Demonstrate strategies to embody a variety of characters.
- Justify choices made in developing a character.
- Embody a character distinct from themselves.
- Experiment with elements of live theatre including interacting with the audience and breaking the 4th wall.
Skill Descriptor: Demonstrate collaborative process of creating a dramatic work.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Apply feedback from peers and educator to the creative process and work created.
- Integrate individual choices with the choices of others.
- Develop skills to interpret various forms of text through exposure to multiple genres.
Big Idea: Technical skill
Skill Descriptor: Develop skills in technical aspects of the dramatic process.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Demonstrate understanding of the purpose of technical skills.
- Demonstrate understanding of how technical aspects can contribute to the literal and figurative portrayal of a dramatic work.
Big Idea: Terminology
Skill Descriptor: Apply practical terminology associated with the dramatic process.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Justify choices made as a character.
- Demonstrate skill in specific and constructive critique of self and others.
- Demonstrate competency in basic stage direction.
Strand: Connect
Big Idea: Deconstruction and analysis
Skill Descriptor: Examine the role of drama in historical, contemporary, and cultural contexts.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM, SGC
Achievement Indicators:
- Discuss why oral tradition continues to be important to dramatic arts.
- Discuss the role the audience plays in a performance.
- Discuss ways power structures and prevailing societal attitudes influence dramatic arts and vice versa.
- Identify bias and cultural relativism, cultural appropriation, blind casting, and stereotypes in dramatic works.
Strand: Communicate
Big Idea: Active Observation
Skill Descriptor: Demonstrate personal growth through participation and engagement in the dramatic process.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Evaluate progress and personal growth throughout the semester.
- Develop personal growth goals with guidance and create strategies for improvement as needed.
Big Idea: Feedback
Skill Descriptor: Critically respond to both their own work and the works of others
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM. SGC
Achievement Indicators:
- Explore the concept of appropriate content for specific audience.
- Justify what makes an effective dramatic work.
- Demonstrate responsibility to each other and to intended audience.
- Constructively contribute to class activities and discussions.
Strand: Create
Big Idea: Strategies
Skill Descriptor: Practice and consistently implement voice and movement techniques.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Demonstrate proficiency in their ability to embody characters physically and vocally.
- Justify choices appropriate to the context of the character, scene, or dramatic work.
- Effectively lead physical and vocal warmups before performance.
Skill Descriptor: Practice and consistently implement dramatic conventions.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Consistently demonstrate various strategies to embody a variety of characters.
- Justify personal choices made in developing a character.
- Effectively embody a character distinct from themselves.
- Create opportunities to engage with audience during live performance.
Skill Descriptor: Demonstrate collaborative process of creating a dramatic work.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Consistently apply feedback from peers and educator to the creative process and work created.
- Effectively integrate individual choices with the choices of others.
- Demonstrate ability to interpret various forms of text in multiple genres, including works of Canadian playwrights.
Big Idea: Technical skill
Skill Descriptor: Develop skills in technical aspects of the dramatic process.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Effectively communicate the purpose of technical skills and how these skills contribute to the literal and figurative portrayal of a dramatic work.
- Demonstrate efforts in production and publicity of a dramatic work.
Big Idea: Terminology
Skill Descriptor: Apply practical terminology associated with the dramatic process.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Justify why they choose a role to explore.
- Demonstrate proficiency in critique of themselves and others.
- Consistently apply stage direction to improve performance.
- Effectively design stage direction for performance.
Strand: Connect
Big Idea: Deconstruction and analysis
Skill Descriptor: Examine the role of drama in historical, contemporary, and cultural contexts.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM, SGC
Achievement Indicators:
- Demonstrate the impact of oral traditions through performance.
- Analyze the role the audience plays in a performance.
- Analyze ways power structures and prevailing societal attitudes impact dramatic arts and vice versa.
- Challenge bias and cultural relativism, cultural appropriation, blind casting, and stereotypes in dramatic works and justify their responses.
Strand: Communicate
Big Idea: Active Analysis
Skill Descriptor: Demonstrate personal growth through participation and engagement in the dramatic process.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM
Achievement Indicators:
- Analyze progress and personal growth throughout the semester.
- Independently develop personal growth goals and create strategies for improvement as needed.
Big Idea: Feedback
Skill Descriptor: Critically respond to both their own work and the works of others
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM, SGC
Achievement Indicators:
- Identify whether content is appropriate for the intended audience.
- Execute an effective dramatic work.
- Demonstrate responsibility to each other and to intended audience through a variety of genres.
- Constructively contribute to and lead class activities and discussions.
Skill Descriptor: Refine dramatic practice through evaluation and assessment.
Global Competencies: CTPS, ICE, SASM, CL, CM, SGC
Achievement Indicators:
- Effectively and consistently apply strategies associated with effective group dynamics.
- Reflect on their personal growth using various forms of expression.
- Demonstrate the ability to articulate the artistic growth in others.