Superhero (Elementary Unit)

by Sarah McDonald and Abi Nielsen

3rd Grade

Unit 1: Superhero – 4 lessons

Authors: Sarah McDonald, Abi Nielsen

Revised by: Sarah McDonald

 

Previous Knowledge/Prior Experience: Students have already learned about tactics and objectives last year. Prior to this unit, they have created superheroes using multiple worksheets – designing their outfits, and choosing their superpower and name.

 

Unit Objective:  Students will be able to demonstrate character development and exploration by stepping into role as the superhero characters they have created on paper, utilizing tactics and objectives.

 

Theatre Standards:

  • NTS TH:Pr5.1.3a. Participate in a variety of physical, vocal, and cognitive exercises that can be used in a group setting for drama/theatre work.
  • TH:Cr2-5. Devise original ideas for a drama/theatre work that reflect collective inquiry about characters and their given circumstances.

 

 

Ubd Design:

 

Big Ideas:

  • Empathy
  • Communication
  • Imagination

 

Essential Questions:

  • What is acting?
  • Who is a superhero?

 

Key Knowledge and Skills:

  • Character development
    • Physical
    • Emotional
  • Basic dialogue awareness

 

Authentic Performance Tasks:

  • Create your superhero
  • Create scenes for your superhero
  • Perform scenes as the superhero you have created

 

Lessons:

 

Lesson #1: Get to Know You & Superhero Introduction!

Objective: Students will be able to create background information about their characters and understand why it is important by participating in a guided drama activity.

 

Lesson #2: Objectives/Tactics

Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate the effects of differing objectives and/or tactics by applying them to the lives and situations of their created superheroes.

 

Lesson #3: Physicality

Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate different elements of physicality by exploring the physical characteristics and tendencies of the superhero they created previously. 

 

Lesson #4: Dialogue/Playwriting

Objective: Students will be able to further develop their superhero character in relationship to others by writing a short scene with a partner in which their superheroes interact.