DRAMA - YEAR 9

Teacher i/c Subject: Mr. R. Blackaller

Aims

Drama is taught at Kingshill School for three main reasons:

1. Drama encompasses theatre, film and television mediums.

Students develop their skills in making, presenting, and evaluating plays. They mainly work in the medium of theatre, but also work in the medium video. These mediums are popular and powerful forces in our society, so drama provides an important contribution to cultural education. Drama is a creative subject and therefore also contributes to spiritual development.

2. Drama enables students to actively explore human behaviour.

Through the active identification with imagined roles and situations, pupils learn to explore issues, events and relationships. They solve problems, challenge stereotypes and make sense of a new perception of reality. We are free to select thematic content, which will usually contribute further to the cultural and / or moral development of the students.

3. Drama develops communication an social skills/qualities.

Drama is a social activity, which usually requires its’ participants to work collectively on a creative task. Social skills such as concentration and co-operation are an essential pre-requisite. Working as a member of a team contributes to a student’s moral development. Students should develop their vocabulary and ability to adapt language according to different situations. All students should desire increased communication skill, even if they are not inclined towards performance.

Course Description

The activities listed below are used regularly in drama lessons. They contribute to the pupil’s development in the above areas:

Physical and mental exercises Role-plays Discussions

Simulation activities Physical, mental and vocal warm-up activities

Trust exercises Movement and dance work

In drama lessons pupils may be involved in:

• Creating dramatic situations and evolving characters by exploring their situation and feelings.
• Using improvisations to discover effective ways of communicating characters or stories.
• Experiencing dramatic situations first hand.
• Interacting with each other during the drama process.
• Issue based or skill based units.
• Developing their understanding of appropriate drama vocabulary.

Year 9 units include:

“Soap Opera”

“Physical Theatre”

“Performance Module”

“Willa’s Video Diary” Optional Drama

“Who’s Line is it Anyway?” Modules.

Homework

No formal homework is set but pupils may be asked to research or continue material developed in class.

Assessment

Students will be assessed during each unit of work (approximately every half-term). Students are assessed in Making, Improvising, Performing and Evaluating.

Time Allocation

1 x 50 minutes per week.

Additional Information

All year 9 students usually have the opportunity to see a professional theatre production. They also have the opportunity to take part in an extra-curricular school production.