Download making history: live! jamestown! play and fine arts guide

MAKING HISTORY: LIVE! JAMESTOWN!
PLAY AND FINE ARTS GUIDE
Roanoke Children’s Theatre
Located in The Dumas Center
for Artistic and Cultural Development
108 Henry St.
Roanoke, VA 24016
Compiled by:
Meghan Griffith, Director of Education
[email protected]
www.roanokechildrenstheatre.org
(540) 400-7795
4th GRADE RESIDENCY
SOL’s: VS.1 b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i; VS.3 a, b, c, d, e, f, g
OBJECTIVE This 90 minute workshop will stimulate imagination,
promote critical thinking, heighten effective listen skills, and
strengthen comprehension and learning retention of 4th Grade
Jamestown SOL's by involving all the senses in the learning process.
PROCEDURE Students will be introduced to theatre and the play production process. The Teaching
Artist will guide the students through a series of warm-ups and theatre exercises to prepare their voices,
bodies, and imaginations for the day’s activities. The theatre artist will engage students in theatre
production by creating the hands-on team it takes to bring a play to life. Serving as Producer, the Artist will
assign job responsibilities to the students. The students will rehearse the show, create the props, design
costume items and ultimately perform the play. Afterwards, the students will engage in a post show
talk-back with the Artist, evaluating the work and reinforcing Jamestown standards learned.
CLASSROOM SET UP The Workshop involves active participation. Prior to the actor’s arrival, we ask
that your classroom be cleared as much as possible, with the students’ desks pushed to one side of the
room. We also request access to an electrical outlet and a blackboard.
KEY TERMS
Objective:
Obstacle:
Tactic:
Actor Warm-Up:
Term used by an actor to describe the thing his/her character wants.
The person or thing that keeps a character from what he/she wants.
Ways that a character achieves their objective.
(voice, body, mind) The exercises conducted by the actor to prepare for a
rehearsal or performance.
Gender-blind Casting: Term used to describe the casting of a role without concern of the character’s
actual gender.
Curtain Call:
At the end of a performance, the acknowledgement of applause by actors;
the bows.
Property (prop):
An object handled by an actor while on stage.
Costume:
The clothing worn by an actor to indicate character.
Set:
The complete stage setting for a scene or act in a play.
Rehearsal:
Practice sessions in which the actors and technicians prepare for the
performance.
JOBS IN THE THEATRE
Producer:
Director:
Lighting Operator:
Sound Operator:
Costume Designer:
Running Crew:
The person who oversees all aspects of mounting a theatrical production.
The person responsible for conducting rehearsals and staging the play.
The person responsible for controlling the lights during a production.
The person responsible for controlling the sound during a production.
A person who designs costumes for a stage production.
The people responsible for changing the scenery during the production.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
SOL’s: 4.7, 4.8
PRE-PERFORMANCE
Divide the students into small groups. Assign a topic from history that the students are studying in
class. Have the students research the event and then write a short play based on historical fact. Perform the plays for the class readers theatre style.
As a class, make a list of careers involved in producing a play. Ask the students to consider which job
they would want and why. Have the students write a letter to the Producer, applying for the job.
POST-PERFORMANCE
After theatrical productions, theatre companies often hold a meeting to evaluate the successes and
failures involved in producing the play. Hold a “Post-mortem” and discuss with the class the
Jamestown production. As a rule, for any critique, students should suggest a means to improve in the
future.
In our workshop, we had a limited amount of time and resources to produce and perform the
Jamestown production. Engage the students in a discussion about what the show could be like if
funds and time were no object! Students can build on the discussion by drawing and designing their
dream sets and costumes, casting celebrities in starring roles, and creating posters to market the
Broadway version of our show!
AT HOME FUN GUIDE!
JAMESTOWN AND THEATRE FUN ON YOUR OWN!
JAMESTOWN CROSSWORD PUZZLE
AT HOME FUN GUIDE!
JAMESTOWN AND THEATRE FUN ON YOUR OWN!
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING:
The World of Captain John Smith- Genevieve Foster
A Lion to Guard Us - Clyde Robert Bulla
The Double Life of Pocahontas- Jean Fritz
Pocahontas and the Strangers- Clyde Robert Bulla
INTERNET RESOURCES FOR JAMESTOWN:
Jamestown Settlement Museum Official Website: www.historyisfun.org
Historic Jamestown Official Website-Archeological Study: http://www.historicjamestowne.org/
National Geographic Interactive Jamestown Videos, Games, and more:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/05/jamestown/jamestown-standalone
National Geographic Kids- John Smith Adventure Game:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/games/interactiveadventures/john-smith/
National Parks- Jamestown: http://www.nps.gov/jame/index.htm
THEATRE: PARTS OF A STAGE!
FUN TONGUE TWISTERS TO PRACTICE!
"Greek grapes, Greek grapes, Greek grapes..."
"Zebras zig and zebras zag."
"If two witches were watching two watches, which witch would watch which watch?"
"Red lorry, yellow lorry."
Want to get involved at Roanoke Children’s Theatre?
We would love to have you take the stage!
Visit www.roanokechildrenstheatre.org and join the fun!