Day 5: Characterization

Today we moved on to Characters. Character run the show in theater. There are many types of character and each play a role that adds to the story.

My objective was that "Students will learn about characterization and have greater focus".

Materials: Music, Character Creation Sheets, bring random dress-up items

Warm-up: 

Listening Cue: (5 mins) For greater focus

• First, teach students how we are going to gather back together during activities today using music from the Greatest Showman - this will help us get to all our activities today and have more fun!
• Have them listen to the quick 10 second musical phrase from “A Million Dreams” and teach them what is expected: When you hear the music, finish talking with your peers, and quickly sit down facing where the sound is coming from with a quiet mouth. 
• Model HOW
• Have students practice - chat with your neighbor and walk to the back of the room. When you hear the music sit down facing me quiet and ready to listen! 

1. Lion and Lemon Faces: (5 mins)
Have students start by stretching their faces (wide lion face and scrunched up lemon face)
Then ask students to carefully wander around the room listening for how to move:

• Stretch arms above the head
• Touch toes
• Twist torso
• Skip
• Hop
• Start small and grow up 
• Only shake all the wiggles out of your left side
• Only shake all the wiggles out of your right side
• *At the end have everyone wiggle to form a circle and once we have all made it we are going to shake our heads and then sit down

2. “Zip, Zap, Zop”: (7 mins)

• This is a simple theater game that helps test the students’ ability to concentrate and focus
• The first person send the word, “Zip” by pointing it right to another person. Then the next person sends it by saying “Zap”, then the last person who was pointed to send the word “Zop”
• We continue trying to focus on what word is next and being specific when we point and pick who to send it to!
• (Ask for the helpers to show the students an example by forming a group of 5)

Reflection: (5 mins)
Why do you feel it is important to move our bodies?
What did you like about Zip Zap Zop? What can we learn from it?
Who are some of your favorite characters? What make them your favorite? What makes them unique?

Activity: (10 mins)
1. Review Because of Winn Dixie characters and what their personalities are like:

• Opal - who is she and how do we know it? (By their words, actions and sometimes thoughts) what adjectives describe these characters
• Winn Dixie
• The Preacher (Dad)
• Gloria (cute old creepy lady)
• Sweetie Pie Thomas
• Otis
• Miss Fanny Block

2. Character Creation: (10 mins)
With those different characteristics in mind, let’s create our own characters! Every student will get the chance to create their very own character individually
Give them 10 minutes to talk with their peers and determine their very own characters (anything, a robot, superhero, alien, typical 8 year old)

3. How would your character act at a Bus Stop (20 mins)

• Set up five chairs
• Seat the audience
• Divide class into groups of 5 and have each come to the bus stop one at a time and interact with each other, can speak, listen to music, read, talk on the phone, etc.
• 45 seconds for each pair to talk land then the bus comes

Exit Ticket: (3 mins) Have students quickly write on a half sheet of paper:

• What was their favorite part of the drama lesson?
• What did they learn about characters today?