Download Jamestown - Roanoke Children`s Theatre

4
Jamestown
What better way to learn about what it was like to live in a
world of the past than to bring that world back to life onstage?
As part of our educational outreach mission, RCT offers
SOL-compliant in-school residencies as a theatre enrichment
option for schools in our community. These programs come with
study guides, in-class instruction by RCT’s professional actors
and educators, and follow-up materials. These courses can be
offered over several days to a class level, or in one day to
multiple classrooms. Living is Learning, and that’s what RCT
Residencies are all about.
Students Will Learn All About The New World of
Jamestown & The World of Theatre by Putting on a Play!
Living is Learning - and that’s what RCT Residencies are all about!
Jamestown —A New World
To create the Play in Residency, students will explore the
New World they are bringing to life:
• Why did Jamestown settlers come to America?
• Where is Jamestown located?
• What was the importance of the charters of the
Virginia Company of London ?
• What was the Virginia House of Burgesses?
• What was the impact of the arrival of women?
• What was the impact of the arrival of Africans?
• What hardships did the Jamestown settlers face?
• What changes took place to ensure survival?
• How did the Powhatan people and the settlers interact?
• Why did these relationships change?
Making History - LIVE Onstage!
And to create the New World on stage, students will explore the
world of Theatre Arts:
• What is a play?
• What are professional theatre jobs?
• And why is a Producer like King James?
• How do actors prepare?
• How do you cast a show?
• And who will be in the show today?
• What design/technical positions make a world
come to life?
• What inspires designing props and costumes?
• Experience Rehearsals, Dress Rehearsal and Opening Night!
Roanoke Children’s Theatre: Professional Theatre for Young Audiences
For more information please contact us at 540-309-6802, [email protected], or
visit us online at roanokechildrenstheatre.org.
TH
GRADE
4
Jamestown
Objective: This 60 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.
Grade Level: 4th Grade / Group Size: Entire Classroom
Classroom Set-Up: Students start at desks at the beginning
of the workshop. Requires a clear space in the front of the
classroom for rehearsal and performance.
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, theatre exercises and
games to prepare their voices, bodies, and imaginations for
the day’s activities.
The 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, critiquing the work and reinforcing
Jamestown standards learned.
Virginia Stands of Learning Skills Addressed:
VS.1 The student will demonstrate skills for historical and
geographical analysis and responsible citizenship, including the
ability to
b) determine cause-and-effect relationships;
c) compare and contrast historical events;
d) draw conclusions and make generalizations;
e) make connections between past and present;
f) sequence events in Virginia history;
g) interpret ideas and events from different historical perspectives;
h) evaluate and discuss issues orally and in writing;
i) analyze and interpret maps to explain relation-ships
among landforms, water features, climatic characteristics,
and historical events.
Colonization and Conflict: 1607 through the
American Revolution
VS.3 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the first
permanent English settlement in America by
a) explaining the reasons for English colonization;
b) describing how geography influenced the decision to settle
at Jamestown;
c) identifying the importance of the charters of the Virginia
Company of London in establishing the Jamestown settlement;
e) identifying the importance of the arrival of Africans and
English women to the Jamestown settlement;
f) describing the hardships faced by settlers at Jamestown and
the changes that took place to ensure survival;
g) describing the interactions between the English settlers and
the native peoples, including the contributions of Powhatan
to the survival of the settlers.
Here’s what Teachers are saying about RCT:
The presentation was a wonderful
An instructor commented to me that it is so
review and the children were very
good to see the theatre in some form come to
enthusiasticin their performance!
Frances Burkholder, 4th Grade
our school as it has been missing for so long.
Our students simply love the program.
I hope this is just the beginning and that
we will be able to continue this educational
program and add even more next year.
E. Hobson-Hardy,
Westside 21st Century Community Learning Center
Russ Baskett, Smith Mtn Lake Good Neighbors
Roanoke Children’s Theatre: Professional Theatre for Young Audiences
For more information please contact us at 540-309-6802, [email protected], or
visit us online at roanokechildrenstheatre.org.
TH
GRADE
4
Jamestown
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
SOL’s: 4.7, 4.8
Pre-Performnce
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!
Key Terms
• Objective: Term used by an actor to describe
the thing his/her character wants.
• Obstacle: The person or thing that keeps a
character from what he/she wants.
• Tactic: Ways that a character achieves their objective.
• Actor Warm-Up: (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: The person who oversees all aspects
of mounting a theatrical production.
• Director: The person responsible for
conducting rehearsals and staging the play.
• Lighting Operator: The person responsible for
controlling the lights during a production.
• Sound Operator: The person responsible for
controlling the sound during a production.
• Costume Designer: A person who designs
costumes for a stage production.
• Running Crew: The people
responsible for changing the
scenery during the production.
Roanoke Children’s Theatre: Professional Theatre for Young Audiences
For more information please contact us at 540-309-6802, [email protected], or
visit us online at roanokechildrenstheatre.org.
TH
GRADE
4
Jamestown
At Home Fun!: Jamestown Crossword Puzzle
Roanoke Children’s Theatre: Professional Theatre for Young Audiences
For more information please contact us at 540-309-6802, [email protected], or
visit us online at roanokechildrenstheatre.org.
TH
GRADE
4
Jamestown
At Home Fun!
Fun Tongue Twisters to Practice!
Suggested Further Reading
• "Greek grapes, Greek grapes, Greek grapes..."
• The World of Captain John Smith - Genevieve Foster
• "Zebras zig and zebras zag."
• A Lion to Guard Us - Clyde Robert Bulla
• The Double Life of Pocahontas - Jean Fritz
• Pocahontas and the Strangers - Clyde Robert Bulla
• "If two witches were watching two watches, which
witch would watch which watch?"
• "Red lorry, yellow lorry."
Internet Resources for Jamestown
• Jamestown Settlement Museum Official Website:
historyisfun.org
• Historic Jamestown Official Website-Archeological Study:
historicjamestowne.org
• National Geographic Interactive Jamestown Videos, Games,
and more:
ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/05/jamestown/
jamestown-standalone
• National Geographic Kids- John Smith Adventure Game:
kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/games/
interactiveadventures/john-smith/
• National Parks- Jamestown:
nps.gov/jame/index.htm
Theatre: Parts of a Stage!
Roanoke Children’s Theatre: Professional Theatre for Young Audiences
For more information please contact us at 540-309-6802, [email protected], or
visit us online at roanokechildrenstheatre.org.
TH
GRADE