The Usefulness Of Physical Theatre For Character Development Lesson Plan for 12th Grade Example Students

Topic: The usefulness of physical theatre for character development

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to understand the value of physical theatre for character development.
• Students will be able to identify and apply techniques and strategies from physical theatre for enhancing the expressiveness of their characters.

Materials

• Handouts with examples of physical theatre techniques and strategies
• Access to physical theatre performances or videos
• Props (optional)

Warm-up

• Begin the lesson by asking students to think of a favorite character from a play or movie.
• Ask them to share their favorite character and explain why they like it.
• Prompt them to think about the way the character speaks, moves, and behaves.
• Ask them to consider how the actor might have developed the character through physical theatre techniques and strategies.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of physical theatre and its uses in character development.
• Explain that physical theatre techniques and strategies can help actors to create and explore a wide range of characters and emotions.
• Provide examples of physical theatre techniques and have students brainstorm how these techniques might be used to develop characters.
• Examples might include using space and movement to create a character's personality, using masks and props to transform into another character, and using vocal techniques to enhance the character's traits.

Guided Practice

• Have students work in small groups to brainstorm ideas for specific characters they wish to develop using physical theatre techniques.
• Provide guidance as needed as students work together to create a character using physical theatre techniques.
• Encourage students to be creative and experiment with different ideas as they create their characters.
• After creating their characters, have students present their characters to the class and discuss how the physical theatre techniques helped them to develop their characters.
• As a class, discuss the benefits of using physical theatre techniques in character development and how these techniques can help actors to create a wide range of characters.

Independent Practice

• Have students choose a character from a play or film to develop using physical theatre techniques.
• Provide guidance as needed as students work independently to create a character using physical theatre techniques.
• Encourage students to be creative and experiment with different ideas as they create their characters.
• After creating their characters, have students present their characters to the class and discuss how the physical theatre techniques helped them to develop their characters.
• As a class, discuss the benefits of using physical theatre techniques in character development and how these techniques can help actors to create a wide range of characters.

Closure

• Review the importance of using physical theatre techniques in character development and the benefits it can have for actors.
• Discuss how the use of physical theatre techniques can help actors to create a wide range of characters.
• Ask students to share any insights or ideas they gained from creating their characters using physical theatre techniques.

Assessment

• Observe students during the physical theatre warm-up and during the independent practice project to see if they are using the techniques correctly and effectively.
• Have students write a short reflection on their experience using physical theatre techniques in character development.
• Have students perform their character using physical theatre techniques for the class to evaluate their use of technique and character development.