www.storytapestries.com SAMPLE LESSON PLAN Storytelling, Music and Drama for 4th Grade Unit on India Teaching Artist: Debbi Arseneaux Contact: [email protected]. 301-916-6328 DC Common Core Standards: 4th Grade ELA Key Ideas and Details  RL.4.2. Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.  RL.4.3. Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions) Integration of Knowledge and Ideas  RL.4.7. Make connections between the text of a story or drama and a visual or oral presentation of the text, identifying where each version reflects specific descriptions and directions in the text.  RL.4.9. Compare and contrast the treatment of similar themes and topics (e.g., opposition of good and evil) and patterns of events (e.g., the quest) in stories, myths, and traditional literature from different cultures. Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas  SL.4.5. Add audio recordings and visual displays to presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes. Vocabulary Acquisition and Use  L.4.5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings. Story Tapestries – Debbi Arseneaux - 4 th Grade – INDIA Theatre Arts Skills: Students will...  Demonstrate an understanding of the collaborative nature of theatre  Understand the job of an actor is to tell a story and that body, voice, mind and imagination are the actor’s tools with which to do this job  Demonstrate understanding of basic story structure (beginning, middle, end, action, conflict/resolution) by exploring folklore of a focus culture  Explore basic story elements (i.e. environment, character) using body and voice  Individually and collaboratively develop dramatic presentations  Incorporate visual arts elements to enhance story presentation  Demonstrate audience skills of observing attentively and responding appropriately in classroom presentations Life Skills: Students will...  Respect peers and their opinions  Develop creative thinking and problem solving skills  Develop active listening and concentration skills  Increase their comfort level contributing to a group project in a creative way  Use imagination Guiding Essential Questions: 1) What do character actions tell us about their personalities? 2) How do we find clues about character traits in a story? 3) What can we learn about Indian culture from folk tales? MATERIALS  images of Gujarat (smartboard)  CD of Indian music  Book – Indian Tales  fabric  instruments from India  Drums – one djembe for classroom, each student will also brings in a recycled/found object to make their own  patterned paper/fabric, scissors, glue, stickers, etc to decorate student drums VOCABULARY  Navarati – Hindu festival which celebrates the “divine Shakti.” Fast all day, dance all night.  Diwali – the Festival of Lights, one of the most important festivals in Indian culture.  Henna – intricate temporary tattoos  Pakoras – deep fried vegetables, fritters  Gujurati – people of Gujarat Story Tapestries – Debbi Arseneaux - 4 th Grade – INDIA Lesson #1 of 6 Tues, May 8 Intro & Story GOALS 1. Introduce teacher and establish objectives 2. Know where India is on a map and identify state of Gujarat 3. Be able to identify main idea of story 4. Be able to identify the job of an actor: to tell a story! PROCEDURE Warm ups  Process storytelling performance  Introduce Ago Ame  Name Game with rhythm  Actor's Toolbox (Body, Voice, Mind, Imagination) Activities  It Could Be...  Read story & discuss  Play wedding music and move to it Closing  Discussion: what would YOU want more than anything? Follow up classroom activity: Create a drawing of your idea of a traditional American wedding. Flip it over and draw what you imagine a traditional Indian wedding to look like. Compare and contrast. Lesson #2 of 6 Fri, May 11 Tableaux/Movement GOALS 1. Review story sequence 2. Use body to explore key moments of story 3. Use body to explore character traits & relationships 4. Know the characters of the story PROCEDURE Warm ups  Review Actors Toolbox (Today's focus: body)  Teach Bollywood style dance moves and dance. Activities  Review story. Sequence using images from book.  Highlight key elements: plot/setting/characters.  What is a tableau? Create a tableau for each of the key moments of the story. Identify the characters necessary for each tableau. Story Tapestries – Debbi Arseneaux - 4 th Grade – INDIA “The Drummer Boy” from Indian Tales: A Barefoot Collection 1) Ghopal lives with his mother in a village in the state of Gujarat. 2) Ghopal encounters a potter lady with a hungry child. 3) Ghopal sees a woman upset because she broke the pot she needed to collect water. 4) Ghopal passes a rich merchant who admires his shawl. 5) Ghopal comes upon a wedding. 6) Ghopal goes to market. Closing  Create a pose for each of the characters in the story. GOALS 1. Explore Rhythmic patterns, call & response 2. Use body to make choices about communicating story 3. Review story sequence 4. Have hands on interaction with culturally appropriate instruments and music Lesson #3 of 6 Tues, May 15 Drumming PROCEDURE *bring in drum and instruments Warm ups  Actor's Toolbox  Machine Activities  Bring out drum. Rhythm call & response. Use hand clapping as example. Lead a few examples, then let them take turns playing and leading.  Develop drumming song from story.  Review scene sequence using images from pages...use drumming song to transition  Introduce additional instruments.  If time, listen to wedding music and tap out beat on body, play along with bells. Follow up classroom activity: Take wedding compare/contrast drawings and expand into a mural we can use as a backdrop for the final presentation. Story Tapestries – Debbi Arseneaux - 4 th Grade – INDIA Lesson #4 of 6 Fri, May 19 Sensory Exploration/ Environment GOALS 1. Use voice and body to explore world of the story 2. Learn about the climate of Western India Gujarat is dry in the north and moist in the south. Three seasons: winter, summer, monsoon 3. Develop ways to enhance storytelling by making physical and vocal choices. PROCEDURE Warm ups  Actors Toolbox  Environment Orchestra. Start with familiar environments, move into India. Activities  Create each location physically WITHOUT people. (village, stream, market)  Find places that sounds could be added NOT WORDS OR MUSIC. (pounding flour, pot breaking, child crying, stream, horse)  Expand music and dancing at the wedding. Lesson # 5 of 6 Tues, May 22 Build a Drum/ Prep for presentation GOALS 1. Create a visual art project to enhance presentation of story 2. Begin to prepare for final presentation PROCEDURE Warm ups  Actors Toolbox  Set up guidelines for project (drums OFF, share materials, if finished before others, go work on mural) Activities  Decorate found object drums.  Sequence the story with everyone using their own drums for the drumming song. Identify all story elements as a group.  Decide and assign who will present each scene in the story. Combination of tableaux and key lines. Follow up classroom activity: Finish decorating drums. Lesson # 6 of 6 Wed, May 23 Prep for presentation GOALS  Prepare for final presentation  Demonstrate understanding of main idea of story, sequence of key events, and traits of main characters.  Perform as storytellers for an audience of peers. Story Tapestries – Debbi Arseneaux - 4 th Grade – INDIA PROCEDURE Warm ups  Give everyone a chance to lead a drumming dance party. Activities  Run through presentation with fabric, instruments and drums. *SEE APPENDIX: Drummer Boy Script for Culminating Performance Script (developed to match the size of a particular class) Story Tapestries – Debbi Arseneaux - 4 th Grade – INDIA