Treasure Stories Drama Creative Writing Exercise

7/27/2019 Treasure Stories Drama Creative Writing Exercise

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Treasure Storiesa beginning acting exercise

Colorado Model Content Standards for Theatre Addressed in

this Unit:

Standard #1: Students develop interpersonal skills andproblem-solving capabilities through group interaction and

artistic collaboration

Standard #2: Students understand and apply the creative process to skill

of storytelling, playwriting, acting and directing.

Materials:

Personal Prop for Teacher Story Description Handout for Students

Treasure bags (Paper Lunch Bags) Treasure Story Overhead Guide

Goals:

At the end of this unit, the students will be able to:

Tell a story using a prop they are familiar with and one with which they are

not familiar. Demonstrate an understanding of storytelling and its

relationship to acting.

1. Learning Set Purpose: The purpose of this unit is to introduce the students

to an authentic acting experience.

1.1 Gain Attention – I plan to gain attention by telling the students a storyfrom my past using a prop. I will also ask a student before class if I can

borrow something from a book bag to use to tell a story or I will use a

prop from the storage room. I will ask the students which story was real

and which was fake.

1.2 Review/State Prerequisite – Each student will need to bring two props

from home. These items will need to be brought to school in separate

paper bags so that no one sees what was brought. These props should

reflect a memory from the students’ life.

1.3 Objective – The students will have an authentic acting experience when

asked to tell a story using their personal prop and a prop they are

unfamiliar with.

1.4 Advance Organizer - In this lesson I will introduce the students to

acting, I will lead them through the process of creating a believable story

(Using Treasure Story Overhead Guide), and the class will learn

constructive criticism.



© Elizabeth Bouchard

2. Present Information

2.1 Describe – Everyone get out his or her treasure bags. Without opening

them, pick one to keep and one to put into the center of the room. Good,

now go back to the pile and pick one bag out that isn’t your own. Everyonefind your own area of the classroom and become familiar with your props.

You all are going to tell stories like the ones I did at the beginning of the

class. Your job is to convince us that both of these objects belong to

you. Take your time and think about where, when, why, how, and with

whom you were with when you got these objects. Take time to examine

both objects carefully. You don’t want to give away which object isn’t

yours before you begin your stories.

2.2 Demonstrate – (prompts) Think about the little details. What was

grandma wearing when she gave me this Tigger stuffed animal? Whattime of year was it when I used this plastic shovel? How long did your

baby brother have to save his allowance to buy you this book about

fairies? Think about your real objects and the circumstances

surrounding them and try to make your new object just as much yours.

3. Students Refine Learning

3.1 Practice – Students will work individually for 5-10 minutes on their

stories. They will reflect on the prompts and my modeling of the stories

from the beginning of class. We will then get into a large circle and

begin to tell the stories. I will remind them to put the objects in no

particular order. We will vote for which story we thought was real and

which was fake. We will discuss as a class Strengths and Helpful Hints.

(Strengths – What they did well. Helpful Hints – Hints to improve things

in the future.)

3.2 Feedback – The students will discuss how they felt when performing, ask

questions and share concerns.

4. Closure

4.1 Summary – You have all acted today! (Uproarious applause) Acting is

telling stories as a character and making the audience believe in you and

your truth. We will be acting all semester.4.2 Transfer - We will be taking the things you learned today such as: the

questions you have to ask yourself that lead to the performance and the

ways to take things that aren’t real and making them believable and

applying them to our future projects. Good work!




5. Assessment

Students will be given a pass/fail grade for this exercise. The purpose is to give

the student an opportunity to try something new. The merit is in the effort not

in the outcome.

I will also assess the basic understanding of the concepts presented during thegroup discussion.




Treasure Stories• You will need to bring 2 items or “Treasures” from

home for Treasure Stories.• The “Treasures” should be able to fit in the small

lunch bags provided by me.

• These “Treasures” should be something that belongs

to you and has a story related to it.

• These “Treasures” should not be breakable, irreplaceable, or somehow easily

identifiable as yours.

• I will be keeping your “Treasures” for a few days, so please bring items you

can live without for the duration of the exercise.

• Do not show or tell anyone in the class what you are bringing in for your“Treasures”. Bring the “Treasures” to class in the small lunch bags.

Treasure Stories• You will need to bring 2 items or “Treasures” from

home for Treasure Stories.

• The “Treasures” should be able to fit in the small

lunch bags provided by me.

• These “Treasures” should be something that belongs

to you and has a story related to it.

• These “Treasures” should not be breakable, irreplaceable, or somehow easily

identifiable as yours.• I will be keeping your “Treasures” for a few days, so please bring items you

can live without for the duration of the exercise.

• Do not show or tell anyone in the class what you are bringing in for your

“Treasures”. Bring the “Treasures” to class in the small lunch bags.




Things to think about when creating and telling your

Treasure Stories:

1. Who is present in this story?

2. What happened during this

story?

3. Where did the story take

place?

4. Why is this story important? Why is the “Treasure” you

have important?

5. How did this story come about? How did you receive the

item?

Documents

Treasure Stories Drama Creative Writing Exercise