This module provides an introduction to Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers at KS3 level as a way of enticing students to take GCSE Drama. Therefore, this only covers two of the early scenes of the play in great depth: Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons making the agreement, and Mickey and Edward meeting for the first time. I did not want to cover the whole play, as we will do this during Year 10 GCSE Drama, instead this is a taster and can finish with “if you enjoyed this, take Drama next year where you can study the whole thing!” This includes: 10 PowerPoint lessons. Oppirtunities for focused rehearsal time with guided practical activities. Oppirtunities for student peer feedback and performance to the class/teacher/each other. Script extracts: Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons making the agreement, and Mickey and Edward meeting for the first time. Homework task, which is in line with AQA’s Q2 of the Component 1 written paper.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND KS3 DRAMA SOW – Performance skills. Includes: 6-7 weeks of lesson PowerPoints. Script extracts - Mad Hatter monologue, Caucus Race, Advice from a Caterpillar. Costume design worksheet (for non-acting students) All relevant worksheets for lessons (peer assessment sheets, teacher helpsheets). End of term assessment sheet (can be adapted) OUTCOME: Collaborate to refine a scripted performance of a scene from Alice in Wonderland. End of term teacher assessment of practical exploration of a script using relevant Drama skills from the year so far. Skills explored in the scheme: Script, levels, refined vocal and physical skills, performing as animals, movement and choreography, physical theatre, choreography, teamwork. Cross-curricular link with English.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S MACBETH – Interpreting and communicating meaning from an abridged script. Unit of work includes: 7 weeks of lesson PowerPoints. Scripts Soundscape/design task homework activity + worksheet Any relevant worksheets Self-assessment sheet OUTCOME: Practical exploration of the key themes and events of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Self-assessed performance of a scene from Shakespeare’s Macbeth using the Drama skills we have learnt so far this term. Skills covered: Script-work, vocal skills, characterisation, character motivation, teamwork, aside, soliloquy, conscience alley, status, spatial relationships. Cross-curricular link with English AQA GCSE (exam text).

This is a full unit of work exploring key scenes from Dennis Kelly’s DNA. The module focuses on three key scenes throughout the play and stretches across a 7 week term. There are strong links to Black History Month here too and a workbook for design students to complete who may not want to act. Skills explored include: monologue, duologue, Jacques Le Coq’s Seven Levels of Tension, characterisation, character arc/motivation/intention, vocal and physical skills, split staging, cross-cutting, flashback, learning lines, social contexts. This includes all PowerPoints, relevant worksheets, script extracts and assessment sheets.

This unit of work explores Ancient Greek theatre history and performance styles through a range of practical activities and written tasks too. The module ends with a multiple choice theatre history knowledge test that assesses student recall on key elements of Ancient Greek theatre (stage types, definitions, genres, techniques used by the Greeks). The start of the module focuses on the teaching of the theatre history (with a mixture of short written and practical tasks), this then develops into the class preparing for their own Great Dionysus Theatre Festival where they will perform either Pandora’s Box or Atlanta’s Great Race to the whole class/teacher. The class will vote for the best piece and Great Dionysus will grant them a prize. The final lesson culminates in a knowledge test, which will be their assessment mark for the end of that term. This purchase includes all PowerPoints, worksheets, scripts, knowledge tests and answer booklets.

This SoW teaches the basic Drama skills of voice, movement, narration, characterisation and mime through the well known fairy tales of Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs. The SoW then also introduces a Cherokee Indian and Kenyan fairy/folk tale in line with Black History Month. Assessment sheets, PowerPoints and all resources included.