| 3 , 4 , 5 | |
| Theater | Social Studies English |
| Grade Level Program | Integration |
| 5 | 45 min |
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Five, 45-60 minute sessions with a final Sharing day during Session 5 Sessions typically held once or twice a week to best integrate with selected Social Studies unit Schedule determined during the pre-planning meeting and based on the needs of the school |
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| In-School Short Term Residency | |
| All Year | In-School, Virtual |
| $10 | 0 |
| yes | In-Person |
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Handouts, prompts and reference materials based on selected Social Studies Unit and Character Development/Scene Study activities |
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Chart paper or white board Non-lined paper or journal for each student Agreed upon materials or copies Props for informal Sharing, if desired Copy of the selected Social Studies unit or chapter and related text for the planning meeting |
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Open space in classroom or multi-purpose space large enough for entire class to participate on their feet simultaneously or spread out to work in small groups A large space or auditorium reserved for Session 4 and Session 5, if sharing with the whole grade level |
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I can use facts and imagination to describe the home, clothing, food, language, job and daily life of a person from another time, place or culture. I can recognize, discuss and demonstrate at least 2 similarities and 2 differences between life in another historical period or culture and our life today. I can work with peers to create and perform an original scene or theatre piece representing characters from another time, place or culture. |
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When students become time travelers, the past comes alive! In Living Through Their Eyes, each student experiences the world from the perspective of another time, place and culture. Acting exercises emphasizing character and environment help bring fresh insights, as students accurately grasp a norm outside of their own and develop a vibrant connection to the past. Research and imagination provide tools for developing a deeper understanding of the actions and motivations of people throughout history. Honoring personal exploration assures equal participation throughout the creative process, as each student critically compares and contrasts elements of Then and Now. Based on guided reading of text and images, students create a realistic context from which to visualize a character"s personal life, relationships, occupation and events within their community. Children communicate insights through discussion, writing (letters/journal entries/scripts/poetry) and drawing (floorplans of homes or workplaces). Cooperating with partners, students improvise situations and speak in the voice of a specific character. The program provides powerful support to any Social Studies unit or topic and is enhanced by incorporating a related text from the Language Arts/Reading Curriculum. For example, some students delve into the lives, trades and interdependence of our counterparts in Colonial America. Others explore Mexican/American culture and immigration by creating scenes from the text Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. At the conclusion of the program, each class brainstorms, problem-solves and collaborates to create a unique Sharing for the entire grade or within each classroom. Presenting to others, reflecting on their own work and giving/receiving feedback solidifies the learning. Handouts, prompts and activities used in the program can be applied in centers focusing on a range of topics throughout the year. *See Additional Notes for Topics with Reading Connections and Extended Projects |
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Suggested Topics with Related Texts: Colonial America (village life, trades and language of the period) If You Lived In Colonial Times by Ann McGovern The Scoop on Clothes, Homes, and Daily Life in Colonial America by Elizabeth Raum If You Sailed On The Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern On The Mayflower by Kate Waters Early American Crafts and Occupations by Peter F. Copeland Immigration (country of origin, hardships of travel and arrival in America) Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan Journey to Ellis Island by Carol Bierman, I Was Dreaming to Come to America (Ellis Island Oral History Project) selected and illustrated by Veronica Lawler Revolutionary War (events leading up to the war and effects on different segments of the population) Patience Wright, America's First Sculptor and Revolutionary Spy by Pegi Deitz Shea Freedom's Fire by Elizabeth Sullivan Falk "Paul Revere"s Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Westward Expansion (moving west, predicting hardships and brainstorming solutions) Extended Projects: Three classes of 5th grades expanded their final Share of scenes from Esperanza Rising to create a movie by adding simple props, costumes and set pieces and choosing backgrounds for filming with Greenscreen. (Teachers noted, "even the most reserved children stepped up to write scenes and perform on camera." Students were proud of their "individual contributions to developing characters and the teamwork involved in producing their own movie." Entire grade applied information and acting skills learned in the residency to create one colonial village to be visited by other grades. They chose costumes/props, made signs/backgrounds, learned language of the time and incorporated period music/dance to demonstrate their shops/trades and village life. *All ACTive Learning Through Drama programs have been developed and implemented by a professional Theatre Educator in collaboration with Classroom Teachers and Arts Specialists. |
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1-3 are welcome to assist in the classroom, if the teacher desires. Parents, guardians and administrators could watch the informal Share in Session 5. |
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