7th Grade Theatrical Conventions Lesson Plan (Theatre)

Topic: Theatrical Conventions

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify and define at least 6 different theatrical conventions.
• Students will be able to use the theatrical conventions in a skit or drama to create a more realistic and believable character.

Materials

• Handouts with definitions and examples of theatrical conventions
• Examples of skits or dramas that use theatrical conventions
• Pencils and paper for writing or doing practice exercises

Warm-up

• Have students stand up and move around the room, making up a short skit or drama with a partner.
• At certain points, have the students stop and point to another student, who will act out the part of a character with a certain theatrical convention. For example, if the students are doing a drama and one of them stops and points to another student, that student will act out the part of the character as a soliloquist, standing alone on stage and speaking to an unseen audience.
• After a few rounds, have the students stop and discuss what theatrical convention they were acting out.

Direct Instruction

• Review the terms "fourth wall," "aside," "soliliquy," "dialogue," "monolgue," "focus," "off-stage focus," "dramatic focus," and "audience focus."
• Have the students take out their notes from the warm-up activity and use the terms to identify the different types of theatrical conventions being used.
• Explain the definitions of each term, using examples from the students' own experiences or from plays or movies they've seen.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and have each group watch a short clip from a play or movie.
• Have the students use the terms to identify the different types of conventions being used in the clip.
• Have each group present their findings to the class and discuss the different conventions they found and their effects on the audience.
• Bring the class back together and discuss any differences or similarities in the groups' findings.

Independent Practice

• Have students choose a play or movie that they have not seen before.
• Have them watch the chosen play or movie and pay attention to the use of theatrical conventions.
• Have students write a short report on the different conventions they noticed and their effects on the audience.

Closure

• Have students share their reports with the class.
• Have a discussion about the different conventions and their effects on the audience.

Assessment

• Observe students during the skit rehearsal to ensure they are using theatrical conventions correctly.
• Evaluate students' reports for understanding of the chosen convention and its effect on the audience.