Theater: Grade 8

Playmaking/Playwriting

Acting

Designing and Technical Theatre

Directing

Researching

Making Connections

Valuing and Responding

Relating to History and Culture

The student will create improvised scenes and written scripts based on his or her own experiences and imagination as well as on literature, history and culture, and current events.

The student will develop acting skills that allow him or her to portray a variety of characters in both improvised and scripted dramatic presentations.

The student will design a variety of technical elements for the theatre.

The student will demonstrate an understanding of the role and responsibilities of the director.

The student will use appropriate practices to research and inform his or her understanding of all aspects of theatre.

The student will make connections between theatre and other arts disciplines, other content areas, and the world.

The student will analyze, evaluate, and derive meanings from improvised and scripted scenes, live theatre performances, and theatrical performances on film, television, and other electronic media.

The student will understand context by analyzing the role of theatre, film, television, and other electronic media in his or her community and the state of South Carolina as well as in other cultures, both past and present.

Improvise characters, environments, dialogue, and action both individually and in groups.

Use theatre vocabulary to critique the plot structure of a play.

Write, revise, and perform short plays that include the basic elements of plot structure and the conventions of playwriting.

Compare and contrast film, television, and other electronic media scripts with theatre scripts.

Apply a knowledge of essential acting vocabulary such as blocking, objective, motivation, projection, diction, rate, and pitch in peer assessment as well as self-assessment.

Demonstrate physical control and expression through character exercises, scene work, and performance.

Utilize vocal acting skills, such as breath control, appropriate tone of voice, voice placement, and effective speech in character exercises, scene work, and performance.

Refine skills of sensory recall, concentration, collaboration, and ensemble building.

Research and observe to create characters.

Synthesize research, observation, given circumstances, and acting skills to create characters in formal and informal productions.

Act as an improvised or scripted character in an ensemble.

Create and justify characters and roles on the basis of his or her observations of people's interactions, ethical choices, and emotional responses.

Summarize his or her own progress in acting as well as that of others through reflection and critique.

Critique the use of design elements such as scenery, props, lighting, sound, costumes, and makeup in a live or video production.

Identify tools and materials for basic technical design and construction of scenery, lighting, sound, costumes, and makeup.

Analyze improvised and scripted scenes for basic technical requirements and justify his or her choices.

Create technical elements for the theatre (for example, scenery, lighting, sound) incorporating the fundamental principles of design.

Collaborate with other students on the production design for a scripted scene.

Collaborate with others to make choices and apply them to formal and informal productions.

Use rehearsal time effectively to brainstorm, experiment, and plan as well as to rehearse.

Direct short scenes incorporating simple blocking techniques.

Direct rehearsals of scripted monologues, scenes, or short plays for informal or formal performances.

Critique performances and recommend solutions to directing problems.

Research the cultural and historical contexts of theatre to support improvised and scripted scenes.

Apply research from print and nonprint sources to plan writing, acting, designing, and directing activities.

Use print and nonprint sources to research careers in theatre.

Research the components of a résumé for various careers in theatre.

Demonstrate an understanding of the use and importance of headshot photographs for those pursuing a career in acting.

Write a theatre résumé for an actual or hypothetical person.

Identify and utilize a variety of universal theatrical conventions (for example, costumes, props, puppets, masks).

Compare and contrast different career and social roles within the arts.

Collaborate with other arts and non-arts disciplines in a variety of activities.

Recognize that theatre is a synthesis of all the arts.

Use audience etiquette during theatre performances.

Analyze and critique dramatic texts.

Analyze and critique live and electronic theatre productions.

Analyze a classroom performance on the basis of characterization, diction, pacing, and staging and then make suggestions for improvement.

Analyze and explain the relationship between historical and cultural contexts and acting styles.

Compare and contrast plays or excerpts of plays from different periods or cultures.

Apply an understanding of historical and cultural contexts to theatre activity such as a presentation or an improvised or short scripted scene.