Drama - Key Stage 3

7

What pupils will learn

How it builds on learning

Team Building

Introduction to Year 7 Drama Strategies.
We explore working in pairs, small and large groups.

This unit explores improvisation, creating characters and story telling.

This unit begins to look at how pupils work creatively together whilst introducing core skills that will be developed throughout the year.

Historical Drama

Pupils will continue to develop their skills and begin to explore working from a stimulus. This unit looks at WWII evacuees which allows pupils to consider the lives of others from a different time and culture.

Having begun to develop core skills such as facial expressions and body language, this unit builds on these skills and looks to create more in-depth work using a stimulus - this being an important skill that will be used throughout Drama lessons in KS3 and KS4.

Drama Mediums

This unit uses the story of Pandora’s Box and pupils are introduced to scripted pieces whilst continuing to work on their devising skills.

This continues to build on core skills in drama whilst also introducing the use of scripts. Developing the ability to interpret characters from a script is incredibly important as they are a fundamental tool during Drama lessons.

Shakespeare

This unit looks at the play “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare.

Pupils will learn about how theatre has changed and developed into what we know now. Students will also have the opportunity to stage and perform extracts from the play.

This unit develops pupils’ skills in script reading, developing characters and performance skills all whilst studying a famous Shakespearian play.

Historical Drama

Pupils will then learn about the “Oregon Trail” and will once again use a stimulus to create drama, work in a group and develop skills their performance skills.

This unit gives pupils the opportunity to look at the role of both adults and children in society of that time.

This unit allows for pupils to draw on all of the skills and techniques they have learnt so far and gives them the opportunity to create drama that follows a story where new pieces are created each lesson as the story moves on.

Script Work

This unit looks at a script that approaches some of the human dilemmas and the choices made in the face of adversity.

This builds on the skills learnt through previous script work whilst giving pupils a more challenging script and theme to work with.

8

What pupils will learn

How it builds on learning

Historical Drama

Greek Theatre

This unit explores Greek Theatre using the story of Oedipus Rex. Students will be devising their own pieces using the story as a stimulus and incorporating the various techniques used in Greek theatre.

This unit builds on the foundation skills learnt in Year 7 and explores a new style and new techniques.

Script Work

Pupils will explore a script based on friendship, bullying and peer pressure where they will use a combination of the text and their own work to continue developing practical skills and working collaboratively. 

This builds on the skills learnt through previous script work whilst giving pupils a more challenging script and theme to work with.

Comedy

This unit is all about Commedia dell’arte = Italian Comedy!

Pupils will learn how to tell stories through fun stock characters, improvisation, script work and stage combat.

Pupils will continue to learn about various styles and types of drama so they are able to recognise where modern day theatre has developed from.

Story telling and Theatre Design

Students will continue to learn how to use their voices as we explore how ghost stories are told. We will also learn how to successfully apply design elements such as sound and lighting.

Whilst developing practical and performance skills, this unit gives students the chance to consider how other elements of theatre are as important as the actor.

Stylised Drama

Students will learn about physical theatre and how we can use it to tell stories and explore characters. We will do this using the popular story of ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

This unit will develop pupils’ physical skills further by challenging them in new and different ways. This style does not rely on lots of dialogue and therefore students will need to think creatively about how to tell the audience what’s happening on stage.

Script Work

The unit allows pupils to develop their skills in voice, movement and interaction using the well-known play Blood Brothers.

This unit builds on pupils’ performance skills and gives them a chance to explore accents and characterisation as well as social class and moral dilemmas.

9

What pupils will learn

How it builds on learning

Script Work

This unit continues to develop the pupils’ skills in voice, movement and interaction using the play “SparkleShark”. The play focuses on a group of teenagers and explores friendship, peer pressure, storytelling and family.

Pupils have been exploring scripts and characterisation throughout Year 7 and 8, and this unit gives pupils the opportunity to continue to build their skill set and knowledge all whilst reading and performing a fast-paced and witty play.

Theatre in Education

This unit allows students to explore challenging social scenarios and vulnerable emotions in a safe and supportive environment. Performances can help to develop empathy for the experiences of others and explore diverse perspectives.

This unit builds on the pupils’ knowledge of different theatre styles and techniques and gives opportunity for taking on a directorial role should pupils wish to.

Social Drama

Students will explore a script based on friendship, peer pressure and racism where they will use a combination of the text and their own work.

This unit develops pupils’ skills in both script work and improvisation all whilst exploring a challenging theme.  

Stylised Drama

In this unit pupils are taught about Melodrama and Silent movies and how modern theatre has been shaped by these conventions.

This unit further teaches pupils about how modern-day theatre has developed and gives pupils a chance to create stylised work.  

Social Drama and Script Work

This unit looks at Verbatim style theatre whilst exploring the plays of Mark Wheeler.

The plays of Mark Wheeler are based on true stories and real life events and this allows pupils to learn about how to perform in the verbatim style.

Social Drama

This unit looks at themes that will challenge and stretch the students,whilst developing and embedding the skills learnt over the last 3 years.

This unit develops pupils’ skills in both script work and improvisation all whilst exploring a challenging theme.