by We are two and a half weeks into the new trimester and it has been an action-packed, fun-filled 12 days. Both grade 7 and grade 9 students took part in a variety of team-building drama activities in order to build trust and community in the classroom. Students also brushed up on their basic stage skills such as vocal projection, expression and stage positioning, and gave valuable feedback to their peers on these same skills. Now we are diving into our first units! The grade 7 unit, Behind the Mask, focuses on mask performance skills and the concept of inner and outer personas; this is an interdisciplinary unit with English Language and Literature and English Language Acquisition. Grade 9s will be exploring the melodrama genre in their unit Drama Queens. In this unit, students will learn melodrama elements such as stock characters, melodrama gestures and asides while also inquiring into how the techniques of a genre can transfer through time. Below are the unit outlines for both grade 7 and grade 9:
Behind the Mask:
Statement of Inquiry – Individuals communicate and interpret public and private identity depending upon the situation
Key Concept – Communication
Related Concepts (arts) – Interpretation
Global Context – Identities and Relationships
Inquiry Questions (arts) –
What skills are required to perform in mask effectively? (factual)
Do masks change the relationship between audience and performer? (debatable)
Drama Queens:
Statement of Inquiry – The techniques and systems of a genre can transfer through time and space
Key concept – Time, place and space
Related Concepts – Genre
Global Context – Scientific and Technical Innovation
Inquiry Questions –
What is a genre? (factual)
How do the techniques of a genre transfer through time? (conceptual)
The what extent does time/ space impact the techniques of a genre? (debatable)
Here are some pictures of the first two weeks of trimester 2:
A.Knowles Theatre 
Leave a Reply