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Middle School Drama Lessons from a Veteran Drama Teacher

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Middle School Drama Lessons from a Veteran Drama Teacher

Hello!

You may not know me or be familiar with my work.  I’m Deborah Baldwin (but my friends call me Deb.)  I am a recently retired award winning drama teacher of thirty-eight years.  In that time, I directed over 300 plays and musicals with students and adults as well.  I taught every grade level, but the bulk of my time was spent with secondary students.

Here is my resume if you’d like to see it: DeborahBaldwin.net

If you are looking for lessons for high school theater classes, check out Drama Lessons for High School from an Award Winning Drama Teacher or elementary classes at Creative Dramatics Lessons for Elementary Grades by an Award Winning Drama Teacher

My Teaching Style

Drama is a hands-on class. To this end, I’m always on my feet, modeling for my students while teaching them a host of concepts. It is not unusual to hear my classroom in chortles of laughter because humor is an outstanding way to gain a student’s attention. I empower students at an early age.

Although I am always mindful of my learning objectives, I think it’s vital for students to experiment within the confines of my instruction. I encourage students to be independent and creative thinkers. Many less confident or reluctant students benefit from my teaching methods as together we hit the challenges they encounter. I am creative, intense, driven and brave–these are qualities I nurture in all my students and generally receive outstanding results.

Check out my store at Dramamommaspeaks.

Here is my opinion about expectations of middle school My Pet Peeve

Drama Lessons with Easy Prep for the Teacher

If you are looking for drama units, lessons and plays for your students, I can help you.  Here are a few of my lessons for middle grade students:

Drama Curriculum and Units

Drama Lessons for Middle Grades from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

Set Design Units

Set Design, the Rendering

If you need theater lessons for elementary students, check out Creative Dramatics Lessons for Elementary Grades by an Award Winning Drama Teacher

Choice Boards 

Drama Lessons for Middle Grades from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

If you have reluctant students in your class, try choice boards.  They give students an opportunity to learn what they want to know the most about.

Wicked Costume Design Boom Cards

Drama Lessons for Middle Grades from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

Do you ever use Boom cards?  This lesson is great for teaching about the musical Wicked, while also studying costume design near Halloween.

Costume Design with Superheroes

 

Bow Blues Radio Play Unit

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Drama Lessons for Middle Grades from an Award Winning Drama Teacher

Invite a Play Character to dinner

Pick up this bundle with Wicked, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth Biographies

Also, this Google Classroom version: Wicked, the Broadway Musical (Google Classroom)

You might enjoy this Famous Theater Artist Biography for the Google Classroom:  Sarah Bareilles

Middle School Drama Lessons from a Veteran Drama Teacher

Cynthia Erivo (FREE)

Wicked Broadway Musical

 

Lin Manuel Miranda cover

Famous Theater Artists:  Lin Manuel Miranda Biography (FREE)

Additionally, here is a new readers theater script lesson based on an Inca legend:  The Magic Lake 

Satisfied Customers 

I’m so flattered by reviews such as these:

  • “Absolutely brilliant! Brightened my classroom with purpose!” (Famous Theater Artist Pendants)
  • “What a terrific and thorough study of Sarah Bareilles. My students really enjoyed learning about her. She’s a great role model for having a growth mindset.”
  • “I used this Lin Manuel Mirranda lesson in conjunction with the Hamilton unit, and my students really enjoyed it. Thank you for putting this together!”
  • ” Set Design with School Setting has been a great lesson for my students during digital learning last year. They really enjoyed doing it and I got some great set designs turned in.”
  • “This unit, The Wiz Broadway musical resourcse is highly detailed and contains all of the information I need to support my unit on the Wiz.”
  • “Wow! This resource is filled with activities that can give students an experience outside of the classroom! You can design independent lessons from this unit, where students can explore radio show history and listen to examples. My class is going to perform our radio show over a zoom call. Deborah is great; she responded promptly to my questions and even added resources for me!” (Bow Wow Blues Radio Theater Unit)
  • I used this resource to get my students ready to attend the Come From Away musical as a field trip. Back in September, we had written letters of gratitude to the people of Gander for what they did on 9/11. Long story short and a few interviews in-between, my EL’s got to attend the musical in Houston in early March 2020 with Captain Bass herself! Thank you for this resource. It helped them prepare for what we would see onstage before seeing it in real life. THANK YOU!!

I hope you’ll check out my drama education products.  There are nearly 450 of them ready and waiting for you.

Lastly…

Looking for something free?  There are free lessons here in my blog and in my store.  Here is something for you: Freebies Stuff

If you don’t find what you need, contact me.  Chances are I’d be interested in creating what you are needing.  That’s always fun! I also customize bundles so if that is something you’d be interested in, do email me.

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

Growth Mindset in the Study of Famous Theater Artists

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Growth Mindset in the Study of Theater Artists

Today, let’s talk about the importance of growth mindset in the study of famous theater artists, Growth mindset is a popular buzz word phrase used for a few years.  At first, I wasn’t certain I knew what it was.  Now that I’ve studied it, it’s a terrific philosophy. 

Growth mindset is the belief that we can grow and change through education and practice.  Some people don’t have a growth mindset, but one that is fixed.  A fixed mindset looks at challenges and changes as a threat.

Recently, I’ve discovered I’ve always had a growth mindset I just didn’t realize it. In fact, I demonstrate it daily.

The Transformative Power When Students Apply Stage Makeup
The Transformative Power When Students Apply Stage Makeup

When I was a student in the seventies, it would have helped immeasurably if someone taught us growth mindset.  Instead we fumbled through our education learning about important people but never understanding the reasons to study them.

As a theater educator for over thirty-eight years, I discovered most of our students aren’t familiar with Broadway performers.  They know the ones which are most popular as Lin Manuel Miranda, Ben Platt, Idina Menzel, and Kristin Chenoweth.  Those are all performers.

Here is some news about Lin Manuel Miranda which is awesome!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Lin-Manuel-Miranda-Family-Fund-Has-Committed-1M-To-Theater-Scholarships-For-Students-Of-Color-20200304

What about playwrights, composers, choreographers and designers? Or lesser known performers such as Billy Porter equally as important?

Check out my bundle of Famous Theater Artist biographies! This a smaller resource than the unit mentioned below.

Growth Mindset in the Study of Famous Theater Artists

Growth Mindset in the Study of Famous Theater Artists

I researched the subject of growth mindset and ran upon this article in Times Magazine, which states:

“The process of historical inquiry—and what it teaches students along the way—is history’s greatest reward. Studying history teaches that society is not stagnant. Studying history teaches us to question how and why things change, who drives those changes, whose interests are served by them and who gets left out of the equation. History teaches that human actions have consequences. Analysis of past events teaches students to ask probing questions, challenge preconceived assumptions and to recognize that humans have the capacity to be both very, very good and very, very cruel.

Analyzing historic documents teaches us to be careful readers. To be skeptical of one side of the story. To be aware of our own biases. Most critically, history teaches us who we are. I am a Jew, a New Yorker, a citizen of the United States, a grandchild of Holocaust survivors. These identities mean nothing without a historical backdrop to set them against. “We swim in the past as fish do in water,” wrote historian Eric Hobsbawm. “We cannot escape from it.”

Becoming Rigorous Thinkers

Growth Mindset in the Study of Famous Theater Artists

Historian historian Eric Hobsbawm continues, “Our students may not go on to all be historians, or even remember the hundreds of facts they learn in a given year. But through history they can become more disciplined and rigorous thinkers. They can be challenged to be more independent-minded analysts, and, I would argue, more compassionate human beings—skills that historical study inculcates and that lead directly to life and career success.”

Someone for Students to Admire

They allow you to stand on the shoulders of giants. In the 1670’s Sir Isaac Newton wrote in a letter to his friend Robert Hooke, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” That is exactly what reading biographies can do for you – allow you to see further because of what these people have achieved. Admittedly not every biography is about a “giant” but most are (and you can certainly pick from that list). However, even if the person you’re reading about is despicable and not worthy of praise or admiration, there likely are still many lessons to be gleaned from their life experiences and behaviors – even if most are “things you don’t want to do.”

  They remind you that history repeats itself. George Santayana wrote in 1905, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It was true long before then, it was true then and it hasn’t changed today. Reading about the real experiences of others gives context for the decisions and consequences that we all will face. History (recent or distant) will repeat itself because those who are making history were, and are, human beings. One of the best ways to take advantage of the experience of others is by reading biographies of historical figures, not academic tomes about history.

The Importance of Growth Mindset Study

Growth Mindset in the Study of Theater Artists

  They promote self discovery. A good self help or professional development book will outline specific steps, tools, techniques and approaches to try. These can be valuable and successful shortcuts to help you make improvements and get results in most any area of your life. A biography, on the other hand, won’t be as direct.

You will discover ideas and approaches on your own through the stories and experiences of others. This discovery learning process is often far more satisfying, and most always more lasting, than reading a list of steps.

Viewing the World with a Different Perspective

  They allow you to see the world in new ways. Rather than being completely focused on your professional discipline, looking at the way you and your colleagues always look at things, reading about someone from a different era, a different background or a totally different set of life experiences will give you new perspective. In truth, most great innovations come from taking an idea from one situation, discipline or industry and adapting it to another. Reading biographies is one great way to do this.

  They give you mentors at a distance.If you have read about the life of Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, Churchill or anyone else you select, you have had a glimpse into their mind and now have the advantage or “knowing” them. These people can become your mentors at a distance, if you allow yourself the chance to think about what advice they might give you, or what they might do in a the situation or choice you are facing.”

Looking for posters for your classroom?  Check some out here:  

Growth Mindset Posters.

Pendants and Posters with Theater Artist quotes

Growth Mindset in the Study of Theater Artists

If you are interested in your students learning about growth mindset in theater artists, I have a unit for you: Growth Mindset Unit:  Famous Theater Artists

I’m especially proud of this particular.  I won’t lie–it took me about fifty hours to complete.

This unit (36 pages, 8-10 days) concerns growth mindset in professional theater artists. Students research a theater artist, answer questions about artist’s growth mindset, consider their own mindset and finish with a creative project. This unit was created for high school students, however it could be adapted for middle grade students.

The Product includes:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Two Warm Ups: MY versions of Popular Theater Games and Exercises
  • The Rationale for Studying Theater Artists
  • The Rationale for Studying Growth Mindset Through Theater Artists
  • Teacher’s Script–What I Say and How I Say it!
  • Procedure for Each Day
  • Theater Artists List– EIGHTY-SIX Actors, Actresses, Playwrights, Choreographers, Directors, etc. (Great care and vetting was taken to select appropriate artists from various backgrounds.)
  • Project Choices Assignment Sheet–What is Expected in the Projects
  • THREE Rubrics (EDITABLE)–Slide, Object or Monologue
  • Exit Slip prompts for 8 days–Growth Mindset Questions for the Students to Ponder about Themselves
  • Video Clips
  • Source Page

Like this?  You’ll find it here: Growth Mindset Posters

If you are home schooling your student, this would be a terrific unit for him or her, too!  There’s so many different ways this can be used.  A gifted middle school class could select one assignment of the three choices–with everyone making a slide presentation, for example.  A high school drama, language arts or even psychology class might find this an interesting project.  A unit which can be used by many different students in several grade levels and subjects is very valuable.

Here is a bundle of Famous Theater Artists which give you another way to teach about growth mindset.  Famous Theater Artists

I hope you check it out and think it’s valuable, too!

What experiences do you have with growth mindset in yourself?  That’s part of the focus of the unit.  I’d love to hear from you.

If you are interested in other drama education products for high school, check out the Play Reading Analysis Presentation and Project.

Here’s another unit I think you might like:  Tom Sawyer Study Guide and Unit

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin, Dramamommaspeaks

A Story of Kindness and Generosity Perfect for Your Students

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A Story of Kindness and Generosity

BOY DRAWING.jpg

Our teachers are faced with teaching character traits.  Can you imagine?

The days of students knowing how to behave seem to be gone and our over-taxed teachers must address this subject, too. It isn’t fair, but what can you do?

In researching this post, I checked with one of my favorite websites, edu.com.  They had a post, “Why Teaching Kindness in Schools is Essential to Reduce Bullying”.  I thought you might be interested in it.

Happy, Caring Children

The good feelings that we experience when being kind are produced by endorphins. They activate areas of the brain that are associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust. These feelings of joyfulness are proven to be contagious, encouraging more kind behavior (also known as altruism) by the giver and recipient. Acts of kindness help us form connections with others which are reported to be a strong factor in increasing happiness.

Greater Sense of Belonging and Improved Self-Esteem

Studies show that people experience a “helper’s high” when they do a good deed. This rush of endorphins creates a lasting sense of pride, well-being, and an enriched sense of belonging. It’s reported that even small acts of kindness heighten our sense of well-being, increase energy, and give a wonderful feeling of optimism and self worth.

Increased Peer Acceptance

Research on prosocial behavior among adolescents determined that being kind increases popularity and our ability to form meaningful connections with other people. Being well liked is an important factor in the happiness of children and it was demonstrated that greater peer acceptance was achieved through good deeds. Better-than-average mental health is reported in classrooms that practice more inclusive behavior due to an even distribution of popularity.

Improved Health and Less Stress

There are a number of physical and mental health benefits that can be achieved by being kind. Altruistic actions trigger a release of the hormone oxytocin, which can significantly increase a person’s level of happiness and reduce stress levels. Oxytocin also protects the heart by lowering blood pressure and reducing free radicals and inflammation, which incidentally speed up the aging process.

A Story of Kindness and Generosity

Dog, Girl, Retriever, Golden, Friendship, Home, Cute

Increased Feelings of Gratitude

When children are part of activities that help others less fortunate than themselves, it provides them with a real sense of perspective, highlighting their own good fortune. Being generous helps them appreciate what they have, makes them feel useful, and fosters empathy.

Better Concentration and Improved Results

Kindness is a key ingredient that enhances positivity and helps children feel good about themselves as it increases serotonin levels. This important chemical affects learning, memory, mood, sleep, health, and digestion. Children with a positive outlook have greater attention spans, more willingness to learn, and better creative thinking to improve results at school.

Reduced Depression

Internationally-renowned author and speaker Dr. Wayne Dyer explains that an act of kindness increases levels of serotonin, a natural chemical responsible for improving mood. This boost in happiness occurs not only in the giver and receiver of kindness, but also in anyone who witnesses it.

Less Bullying

Shanetia Clark and Barbara Marinak are Penn State Harrisburg faculty researchers. They say, “Unlike previous generations, today’s adolescents are victimizing each other at alarming rates.” They strongly believe that adolescent bullying and violence can be confronted with in-school programs that integrate “kindness — the antithesis of victimization.”

Many traditional anti-bullying programs focus on the negative actions that cause anxiety in children. When students are instead taught how to change their thoughts and actions by learning about kindness and compassion, it fosters the positive behavior that’s expected and naturally rewarded with friendship. Promoting its psychological opposite is key in reducing bullying to create warm and inclusive school environments.”

CHILDREN HELPING

A Story of Kindness and Generosity

Wow!  Teaching kindness reduces bullying.

Several years ago, I found a delightful Japanese folk tale, Oji-san and the Grateful Statues.  It tells the story of an old man and his generosity to a group of stone statues sitting out in the blinding snow.

This sweet story is one of kindness, too.  I dramatized it as I do with many wonderful multicultural folk tales because I like to share terrific stories with others.

If you are looking for a short play to perform in your classroom, you might want to look at this one.  There are two versions.  One is for younger students

(grades 1-4) and the teacher serves as the narrator.

Creative Dramatics Version

OjiSan C. Dramatics Cover

The other adaptation is for older students, grades 5-8.  It includes more speaking roles (such as narrators) and a bigger production value.

15 Minute Play and Unit with Music

Oji San and the Grateful Statues Winter Square EDITED pptx

Based on the beloved Japanese folk tale by the same name, students have an opportunity to:

  •  dramatize a folk tale using many of the elements of drama
  • create straw hats
  • design snowflakes
  • sing an original song written in a pentatonic scale
  • and use their imaginations to express emotion through movement.

Integrate with your vocal music teacher and present the play together! Your students can sing and accompany the song with metallophones, xyllophones and percussion.

This product comes with:

  • script with stage directions to help you be successful
  • stage properties list
  • costume suggestions
  • snowflake construction directions
  • hat construction directions
  • post performance discussion questions and quick activity
  • original song composed by an award winning instrumental music teacher
  • recording of the melody with the accompaniment
  • sheet music for the song

Kindness Changes the Brain

A professor of neuroscience, emotional learning and psychology states,

“Kindness changes the brain by the experience of kindness.  Children and adolescents do not learn kindness by only thinking about it and talking about it.  Kindness is best learned by feeling it so that they can reproduce it.”

Buddy and the Evergreen Trees

Check out:  Buddy and the Evergreen Trees 

People often wonder why I am liberal in my views.

Here’s the thing:  when you perform or direct people to act as someone else (many times the underdog), you absorb the feelings the characters have.  I’ve portrayed a very obese woman nicknamed Fatty.  I’ve played Anne Frank’s mother.  I’ve been the antagonist in plays who picks on others and demeans them. Trust me, I liked portraying the positive characters more than the negative, but I learned the most from the latter.

The result is that once you have done that publicly, even if it is pretend, you see the world differently.

So, let’s pretend positive messages with our students!

Students will feel it, too.  They can’t help but do so.

What plays have you performed which teach about kindness and generosity?  I’d love to hear about them.  Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin, Dramamommaspeaks

 

 

 

What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology and Hadestown

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What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology and Hadestown?

When the 2019 Tony award nominations were announced, Hadestown was included–not surprisingly.  Today I want to talk about what can we learn from Greek mythology?

What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology and Hadestown?

Are you familiar with the musical?  It’s awesome, but don’t take my word for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfNHgSsammc

Here is the plot in a nutshell.  From Broadway.com:

“The plot of Hadestown follows the overall framework of the narrative that we know from antiquity, established most thoroughly by Vergil in Book 4 of the Georgics and Ovid in Book 10 of his Metamorphoses. Orpheus and Eurydice are in love and preparing for marriage. She ends up in the underworld, here referred to as “Hadestown.”

What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology and Hadestown?

Orpheus goes before Hades and Persephone and manages to win Eurydice’s freedom with his song on the condition that he not look back as she follows him out. At the last minute he looks back and loses her forever. The most significant departure that Mitchell makes from the traditional narrative concerns the reason for Eurydice’s presence in the underworld, or “Hadestown.”

In place of the traditional snake-bitten ankle Mitchell explicitly draws attention to the ambiguity of her narrative, challenging her listeners to draw their own conclusions.”

What is Hadestown?

What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology and Hadestown?

Hadestown is a 2016 stage musical adaptation of the 2010 folk opera concept album by Anais Mitchell. It tells the intertwining of two love stories—Eurydice and Orpheus and King Hades and his wife, Persephone. As in the 2010 album, Hadestown adapts the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice to a Great Depression-era inspired post-apocalyptic setting.

One of the messages of the production defends beauty and the importance of music and love to the soul, even in an increasingly commercialized world.

Such an important message.  If you know anything about me, you know I think the arts are vitally importance.

What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology and Hadestown?
Fredrick Leighton’s The Return of Persephone, circa 1891.

What is Mythology?

I was looking around for answers to this question and found this at reference.com:

“Mythology is studied because myths are ways in which cultures attempt to explain the world and answer questions of human concern. For instance, mythology delves into such basic debates as good versus evil or looks into the nature of man.

Mythology also illustrates different cultures and their narratives. The mythology of each culture is the accumulation of that culture’s knowledge, wisdom and experience. Although mythologies differ, they often follow the same basic themes. For instance, several cultures have myths that deal with the afterlife and great floods.

What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology and Hadestown?

The World of Mythology

Many Middle Eastern cultures also have virgin-birth myths. Some archetypal themes deal with women of power, heroes, paradise and quests. The hero myth is about figures performing unbelievable feats. Heroes are in the mythology of most cultures. Hercules, the son of Zeus, is one of the most popular of these mythological figures.

Kutoyis is a Native American Blackfoot hero who also has supernatural origins. In Britain there is the King Arthur myth. Heroes also come from religious mythology, such as Jesus Christ, Muhammad and Buddha.

Mythology is still prominent in aspects of modern culture, especially advertising, because of its universality and vibrant metaphors. For instance, the Trojan horse is still a metaphor for gifts that are not really gifts. When Camelot is referred to, it denotes a golden age of prosperity.”

What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology?

What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology and Hadestown?

Five Reasons We Study Greek Mythology

When I decided to blog about the importance of mythology, I had a devil of a time (no pun intended) finding adequate articles discussing it. However, this mother did a fantastic job of defending the need for studying myths with our students.  Here are a few excerpts from the blog post which can be found at www.thekennedyadventures.com, a home school blog under Five Reasons We Study Greek Mythology:

  • One of the hidden benefits of studying Greek myths is to explore virtues. With these classic stories, the lines between righteous and immoral behavior are clear cut, so that even young children can recognize examples of the 4 cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.
  • In Greek mythology, the lines between good and evil are very clear cut. Monsters are monsters, while heroes are heroes. When you take a look at Heracles (Hercules is his Roman name), there’s no doubt in children’s mind that he’s a good guy, performing noble deeds.
  • Ever deal with character issues in your home?
  • The best way I’ve found to tackle these tough topics? Reading stories about them, especially ones found in the Greek myths.

What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology and Hadestown?

5 Reasons to Study Greek Mythology

  • Children can recognize an element of negativity in a story much better than they can emulate it to you. It’s a great way to role play and discuss reasons behind bad behavior
  • Do you expect your children to study Shakespeare or other English literature as they grow older? They will need at least a basic understanding of Greek mythology to assist them in studying these great works.
  • Allusions to Greek myths (and their Roman counterparts) are everywhere, both in modern literature and the classics. Think about these examples:
  • Mary Shelley incorporated the myth of Prometheus into her book Frankenstein. (also known as The Modern Day Prometheus) C.S. Lewis’ Till We Have Faces is a retelling of the story of Cupid and Psyche.

The Avengers films are an excellent example of mythology in action.  Obviously, it works–it’s made a billion dollars in the first weekend!

If you are studying mythology with your students, you might appreciate my Page to Stage lesson on Hadestown.

What Can We Learn from Greek Mythology?

Check it out here:  Hadestown, the Broadway Musical

Hadestown Broadway Musical Unit

This Resource is Comprehensive

This is a two or three day lesson about the musical which includes a warm up exercise, the history of the Greek mythological characters, the plot of the musical, a mini lesson on the Tony Awards, hot links to video examples of the musical, a separate set of slides to teach the lesson, quotes, trivia and extension activities.

Here’s a blog post about other Page to Stage Lessons:  Why Do You Need a Mission Statement for Your Teacherspayteachers Store?

Do you teach younger students? Check out my readers theater lesson, the Legend of the Sunflower.

The Legend of the Sunflower

I agree with this statement by author, Ashwin Sanghi,

“It is not history, theology or mythology that interest me. It is the fact that history, theology or mythology could have alternative interpretations or explanations. I try to connect the dots between the past and the present.”

I try to connect the dots, too.  We all do whether we are aware of it or not.  That’s why we need to study Greek mythology and so do our students.

What are your favorite myths?  I’d love to hear about them.

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin

 

 

 

 

Circus Themed Lesson Plans–a New Twist for Drama Classes

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Circus Themed Lessons–a New Twist for Drama Classes

Let’s talk about circus themed lesson–a new twist for drama class, shall we? “Welcome to the circus!”–You know, I don’t think I’ve heard a circus master of ceremonies actually say this, have you?

It must be from the movie, Dumbo which was one of my favorites when I was a child. This is probably the reason I love elephants so much, too.

Recently, I saw a preview for the new Dumbo movie coming out soon and it reminded me of a couple of lessons I created about Cirque Du Soleil.  Students don’t study Cirque du Soleil per se, but they focus on Cirque Du Soleil lessons through a new twist: the performers costumes and makeup.

Acrobats, Cirque Du Soleil

In case you don’t know me, I taught drama at every grade level for over thirty-five years and as many as ten different subjects within it.  Everything from creative dramatics to technical theatre–second through twelfth grade.

Why is it Important to Create a Lesson Plan?

I had a good drama teacher when I was in high school during the Civil War (well, it feels like it sometimes).  Mr. Kent Chapman of Emporia High School got me started and for that, I am always grateful.  I loved everything about his classes–his warm ups, lessons, assignments and of course, direction of the plays.

 Like most educators, we emulate what we liked from our own teachers.  Over those many years of teaching, although I was modeling my lessons after Mr. Chapman’s it became dull and robotic. 

 As a result, I realized I was getting stale because I kept doing the same things over and over again. 

However, if you are going to repeat yourself (for thirty-eight years) you may as well toil on an assembly line someplace and make better money.  As a I was a  creative person I couldn’t abide by it.

If you keep teaching the same thing over and over it’s easier, right? It’s way boring, though. 

That’s just not my style.  I like to build a better mousetrap.

Cirque Du Soleil Lessons–a New Twist for Drama Classes

When our daughters were young, we traveled to Disney World and just happened to get tickets for our first Cirque Du Soleil show, La Nouba.  Oh my gosh, we were awestruck the entire time.  If you haven’t seen it or any of their circuses, you are missing out!  Here’s an example for you:

As you can see, their shows are magnificent!

Who is Cirque du Soleil?

According to Wikipedia, “Cirque Du Soleil is a Montreal-based entertainment company and the largest contemporary circus producer in the world.  Located in the innter-city area of Saint Michel, it was founded on June 16, 1984 by former street performers Guy Laliberte and Giles St.-Crois.  Like many new entertainment ventures, they had a great idea but not much money to make it happen.  Then in 1983 they received a government grant from the Canada Count for the Arts to perform as part of the 450th anniversary celebrations of Jacques Cartier’s voyage to Canada.  Its theatrical, character-driven approach and the absence of performing animals helped define Cirque du Soleil as the contemporary circus that it remains today.”

Circus Themed Lesson Plans--a New Twist for Drama Classes

Bringing Cirque to the Classroom: Inspiring Creativity Through Costume Design and Storytelling

When I returned to school that year, I got to thinking about how I could use La Nouba in the classroom.  First, I created a lesson on costume design about it.  Kids just LOVED it!

As a result of my attendance to the show, we’d see video snippets about La Nouba. I’d talk them through the various acts pointing out the costumes and makeup in particular.  Then the students would study costume design and its importance in theatre and finish by designing their own Cirque costume.

Since writing was a big push at our school,  I thought they needed to do more than design.  Consequently, I also assigned them to write a letter to a family member as if the student was hired by Cirque detailing their employment and subsequent training in the circus.

Time to Study Stage Makeup

Next it was time to study stage makeup–why not continue with the Cirque Du Soleil focus? 

For Grades 6-9

We did so, and I was amazed at their wonderful designs and ideas.  Here is one:

gotta put my face one (2)

Isn’t this awesome?

I thought other teachers may like to use these lessons as well.  Each lesson is about two days in length which could be stretched to a week if you did both. That’s a heck of a week of learning if you ask me.

Cirque Du Soleil Lessons–a New Twist for Drama Classes

For Grades 4 to 7.

 

DRAMA LESSON: COSTUME DESIGN STUDY WITH CIRCUS PERFORMERS

Check out the product here: Costume Design with Circus Performers

Purchase at Costume Design with Circus Performers 

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DRAMA LESSON: STAGE MAKEUP DESIGN STUDY WITH CIRCUS PERFORMERS

Stage Makeup Design with Circus Performers

These elements of drama lessons study costume design and stage makeup using circus performers (in particular Cirque Du Soleil) as their focus! These are great for an elementary gifted class or middle school drama class.

Students love to study stage makeup!  Even boys enjoy it as you can see from the above.

Costume Design and Stage Makeup Design:

Costume Design includes:

  • The History of Costume Design
  • The Rationale for Teaching Costume Design
  • Costume Notes for Students
  • Procedure
  • Teacher’s Script–what I say and how I say it!
  • Materials List
  • Source & Video link list (Cirque De Soleil, Ringling Brothers, etc.)
  • A Warm-Up—engaging and creative
  • Circus Performer list & skills
  • Two Assignments–one drawing and one creative writing
  • Student Examples

Stage Makeup Design:

  • Warm Up Game–Zip, Zap, Zop (MY version)
  • The History of Stage Makeup (separate file of Power Point slides & teacher’s lecture notes)
  • Teacher’s Script–what I say and how I say it
  • Procedure
  • Materials List
  • Source & Video link list (Cirque De Soleil makeup tutorials, Circus Shmurkus, Barnum and Bailey, etc.)
  • Pinterest board link with examples
  • Two Assignments–one drawing and one creative writing
  • Theatre Quote page–great to use for discussion and/or bell ringers

Check out my advice at: Why You Should Use These Effective Teaching Methods, Part Two

I hope you get a chance to see both Dumbo and a Cirque Du Soleil show soon.  You won’t regret it!

My favorite act at the circus is the trapeze.  What is yours?

I’d love to hear from you.  Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deb

 

 

 

 

 

Who On Earth Created the First Fringe Festival?

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Who on earth created the first fringe festival?

It’s an interesting question.

Last year my husband and I took the trip of a lifetime to Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.  One of our last stops was Edinburg, Scotland.

Here is a photo of the Edinburg castle.

 

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(While we toured the castle, I had an encounter with a ghost in one of the jails cells, but that’s a post for another day….)

The popular Edinburg Fringe Festival was running, but unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to attend.  I would have liked that.  Had I know then what I know now about fringe festivals, I would have made it a point to attend some part of it.

So, I promised I would speak about the history of the Edinburg Fringe Festival.

The History of Edinburg Fringe Festival

“In 1947, eight theatre companies showed up at the Edinburgh International Festival, hoping to gain recognition from the mass gathering at the festival. In 1948, Robert Kemp, a Scottish journalist and playwright, described the situation, “Round the fringe of official Festival drama, there seems to be more private enterprise than before … I am afraid some of us are not going to be at home during the evenings!”.[2] Edinburgh Festival Fringe was founded in 1947.”

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According to the United States of Fringe Festivals:

  • “Focused on the performing arts: At its core, Fringe gives a spotlight to theater, dance, puppetry, music, visual arts, and spoken word. Fringes don’t have a focus on one single discipline or genre, but are a performing-arts smörgåsbord
  • Uncensored: From family friendly to bawdy and burlesque, Fringes do not curate or constrain the material or content used in participating show.
  • Easy to participate in: Ticket prices are purposely low for audiences and production fees are low for artists. We strive to make the arts available to everyone. Show selection varies from festival to festival but is generally quite open to participation by the gamut of amateurs to professionals
  • Festivals: Fringes around the world vary. They last from just a few days to a few weeks and involve lots of people at multiple venues.
  • Original: Fringes feature a wide array of original material—sometimes by design, but usually because that’s what Fringes do naturally well.
  • Rapid-fire: Typically, tech is minimal and time is a factor at our festivals. Shows are often kept brief (Fringes most frequently have shows right around 60 minutes in length) and technical requirements kept simple (minor sets, streamlined cues, nothing elaborate)

Image result for fringe festival

In the U.S., no one organization or individual owns, controls or regulates the name “Fringe”. There are no national rules for how each individual festivals operate; festival content, finances, and structure vary from city to city. Generally, all festivals are committed to an open forum of expression that minimizes the financial risks for both artists and audiences. Fringes work hard to keep production fees and ticket prices low so that more people can participate in our festivals.”

Doesn’t that sound like fun?  People doing theatre just because they want to.  People being creative and imaginative with other people doing the same thing.

I think you’d like to attend one.  I have several former students who participate in them each year and they enjoy the freedom of creativity they feel.

Here is a life of a few places in the United States where fringe festival occur:

Arizona

California

Colorado

District of Columbia

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Illinois

Indiana

Maine

Maryland

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

North Carolina

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Tennessee

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 Check them out.  Maybe I can catch the one in Kansas City. I’m so excited!
Have you attended a fringe festival performance?  I’d love to hear from you about your perspective?
You can contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net