Drama: Playbuilding: A Moment in Time
Description of activity
Students work collaboratively to improvise scenes and create a short performance piece set in a rainforest.
- In small groups, students create a tableau or freeze frame depicting a rainforest scene.
- They discuss what might have happened leading up to the moment in the tableau or freeze frame and work together to create a short scene depicting this.
- Students rehearse their performance and incorporate their tableau/freeze frame.
- They then discuss what might happen following the moment in their tableau/freeze frame and work together to create a short scene depicting this.
- Students rehearse their performance (including both scenes and the tableau/freeze frame) and present it to the audience.
The suggested time for this activity is two lessons.
Board of Studies NSW, Creative Arts K–6 syllabus, pp 96–99
Suggested materials
nilPrior learning
Students have been studying rainforests in HSIE. They have devised various forms of drama in groups. Students have used the elements of drama to shape dramatic meaning and adopted and sustained familiar roles.Outcomes
Making (DRAS3.1)Develops a range of in-depth and sustained roles.
Making (DRAS3.2)
Interprets and conveys dramatic meaning by using the elements of drama and a range of movement and voice skills in a variety of drama forms.
Performing (DRAS3.3)
Devises, acts and rehearses drama for performance to an audience.
Criteria for assessing learning
Students will be assessed on their ability to:
- work collaboratively to develop a performance using a combination of tableau, dialogue and vocal sound effects
- sustain belief in a character
- use the dramatic elements of time, focus and mood.