Education 3700 Drama

Matthew Fosen and Leo LaCourciere

The Student Will Be Able To (TSWBAT)

Our activities:
1. Group story. The class will sit in a circle, and going around clockwise starting
from the instructor, each will add a sentence to create a communal story. The
teacher will begin with Once upon a time, there was a and each student
will then continue the story in one sentence (or two if needed). The focus of
the exercise is to build upon what the other students are contributing, using
the concept of Yes, and to continue the story, rather than blocking
opportunities. This exercise will demonstrate:
a. speak spontaneously within a given context (SPEECH 13)
b. demonstrate effective narrative technique (SPEECH 14)
c. maintain concentration during exercises (IMPROVISATION 3)
d. create experiences through imaging, visualizing and fantasizing
(IMPROVISATION 5)
e. tell a story spontaneously (IMPROVISATION 8)
f. apply the essential elements of a story: Improvisation, character,
setting, conflict, climax and plot in planned and unplanned scenes
(IMPROVISATION 11)
g. initiate a dramatic situation in response to a given stimulus
(IMPROVISATION 15)
h. make logical choices spontaneously within the boundaries of situation
and character (IMPROVISATION 16)
i. demonstrate the ability to accept, advance, offer or block thought and
action, quickly and effectively (IMPROVISATION 17)
j. demonstrate the techniques of sharing, giving, and taking focus
(IMPROVISATION 34)
2. This is not a _________. The class will stand in a circle. Starting with the person
on the left of the teacher, each student is handed a prop (the same one each
time). The student will then use the prop as anything except what the item
would actually be used for. For example, if the student were handed a broom,
the student could do anything they wanted with it, except for activities
normally associated with brooms (like sweeping or witches riding). The
student then passes the prop along to the next person in line and they must
come up with a new way of using the prop that has not been already
demonstrated in the circle. This exercise will demonstrate:
a. demonstrate focus, concentration and energy in all movement and
gesture (MOVEMENT 10)
b. demonstrate the ability to move isolated body parts (MOVEMENT 11)
c. demonstrate knowledge of elements of space (MOVEMENT 12)
d. use levels (high, medium and low) (MOVEMENT 13)
e. create, physically, shapes in space (MOVEMENT 14)
f. translate words, images and emotions into movement (MOVEMENT 22)
g. demonstrate non-verbally the who, what, mime where, why and when
of a story (MOVEMENT 23)
h. create experiences through imaging, visualizing and fantasizing
(IMPROVISATION 5)

Education 3700 Drama

Matthew Fosen and Leo LaCourciere
i.
j.

communicate meaning without words (IMPROVISATION 13)

make logical choices spontaneously within the boundaries of situation
and character (IMPROVISATION 16)