Congratulations and Welcome!
Your class has been selected to participate in the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy’s Astley Foundation In-School Workshops! To understand what to expect, please scroll down to find a detailed curriculum for each grade that outlines what will happen during each of the four weeks your Drayton instructor is with you. At the bottom of the page, you’ll also find a resource tab with handouts, improv exercises, a worksheet and a scene assignment for your class or own personal needs. These resources are included to support and enhance the learning journey your students are about to begin.
To help you prepare, we’ve posted a detailed curriculum for each grade that outlines what will happen each week your Drayton instructor is with you. You’ll also find worksheets and rubrics under the resource tab for your class or own personal needs should you choose to use them as part of your classroom experience. These resources are designed to support and enhance the learning journey your students are about to begin.
If you have any questions along the way, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Education and Community outreach manager, Chad McNamara at Chad@draytonentertainment.com
Grade 4
Week 1
Unit 1 – Improvisation
Week 1 is the only lesson in the Improvisation Unit.
Unit Description
This unit will focus on introducing improvisation and role play through drama games and activities. Students will learn to apply the fundamentals of role/character, relationships, time and place, tension, and focus and emphasis through improvised storytelling.
Week 2
Unit 2 – Scripted Acting
Week 2 is the beginning of the Scripted Acting unit. This unit includes all lessons from weeks 2 – 4, as these lessons build off of each other.
Unit Description
Building on the fundamental elements of drama introduced in the improvisation unit, this unit will focus on applying these concepts to scripted acting scenes with students formally implementing the creative process. Students will work in small groups across multiple lesson blocks on a scripted acting scene that they will present during the final lesson, using two elements of technical theatre (lights, props, costumes, etc.) to enhance their storytelling.
Optional Lesson
This lesson is led by the classroom teacher following the DEYA Instructor’s departure at the conclusion of the 4 weeks
Grade 5
Week 1
Unit 1 – Improvisation
Week 1 is the only lesson in the Improvisation Unit.
Unit Description
This unit will focus on introducing improvisation and role play through drama games and activities. Students will learn to apply the fundamentals of role/character, relationships, time and place, tension, and focus and emphasis through improvised storytelling.
Week 2
Unit 2 – Scripted Acting
Week 2 is the beginning of the Scripted Acting unit. This unit includes all lessons from weeks 2 – 4, as these lessons build off of each other.
Unit Description
Building on the fundamental elements of drama introduced in the improvisation unit, this unit will focus on applying these concepts to scripted acting scenes with students formally implementing the creative process. Students will work in small groups across multiple lesson blocks on a scripted acting scene that they will present during the final lesson, using two elements of technical theatre (lights, props, costumes, etc.) to enhance their storytelling.
Optional Lesson
This lesson is led by the classroom teacher following the DEYA Instructor’s departure at the conclusion of the 4 weeks.
Grade 6
Week 1
Unit 1 – Improvisation
Week 1 is the only lesson in the Improvisation Unit.
Unit Description
This unit will focus on introducing improvisation and role play through drama games and activities. Students will learn to apply the fundamentals of role/character, relationships, time and place, tension, and focus and emphasis through improvised storytelling.
Week 2
Unit 2 – Scripted Acting
Week 2 is the beginning of the Scripted Acting unit. This unit includes all lessons from weeks 2 – 4, as these lessons build off of each other.
Unit Description
Building on the fundamental elements of drama introduced in the improvisation unit, this unit will focus on applying these concepts to scripted acting scenes with students formally implementing the creative process. Students will work in small groups across multiple lesson blocks on a scripted acting scene that they will present during the final lesson, using two elements of technical theatre (lights, props, costumes, etc.) to enhance their storytelling.
Optional Lesson
Grade 7
Week 1
Unit 1 – Improvisation
Week 1 is the only lesson in the Improvisation unit.
Unit Description
This unit will focus on introducing improvisation and role play through drama games and activities. Students will learn to apply the fundamentals of role/character, relationships, time and place, tension, and focus and emphasis through improvised storytelling.
Week 2
Unit 2 – Scripted Acting
Week 2 is the beginning of the Scripted Acting unit. This unit includes all lessons from weeks 2 – 4, as these lessons build off of each other.
Unit Description
Building on the fundamental elements of drama introduced in the improvisation unit, this unit will focus on applying these concepts to scripted acting scenes with students formally implementing the creative process. Students will work in small groups across multiple lesson blocks on a scripted acting scene that they will present during the final lesson, using two elements of technical theatre (lights, props, costumes, etc.) to enhance their storytelling.
Optional Lesson
This lesson is led by the classroom teacher following the DEYA Instructor’s departure at the conclusion of the 4 weeks.
Grade 8
Week 1
Unit 1 – Improvisation
Week 1 is the only lesson in the Improvisation Unit.
Unit Description
This unit will focus on introducing improvisation and role play through drama games and activities. Students will learn to apply the fundamentals of role/character, relationships, time and place, tension, and focus and emphasis through improvised storytelling.
Week 2
Unit 2 – Scripted Acting
Week 2 is the beginning of the Scripted Acting unit. This unit includes all lessons from weeks 2 – 4, as these lessons build off of each other.
Unit Description
Building on the fundamental elements of drama introduced in the improvisation unit, this unit will focus on applying these concepts to scripted acting scenes with students formally implementing the creative process. Students will work in small groups across multiple lesson blocks on a scripted acting scene that they will present during the final lesson, using two elements of technical theatre (lights, props, costumes, etc.) to enhance their storytelling.
Optional Lesson
This lesson is led by the classroom teacher following the DEYA Instructor’s departure at the conclusion of the 4 weeks.
Resources
Theatre Glossary Handout
Improv Glossary Handout
Improv Exercises
Scene Worksheet
Scene Assignment Rubric