Arts Integrated Lesson Plan - mdk12

Maryland Artist/Teacher
Institute
Arts Integrated
Lesson Plan
ART FORM:
Theatre
SUBJECT AREA:
Reading/English Language
Arts
Lesson Title:
Extending plot and understanding character through tableau (Romeo and
Juliet by William Shakespeare)
Contributor, School:
Zachary Johnson, Cedar Chapel School
Grade:
9
Time Frame:
45–60 minutes
State Curriculum Content Standards, Indicators, Objectives
Theatre Content Standard(s)
3.0 Creative Expression and Production:
Students will demonstrate the ability to apply
theatrical knowledge, principles, and practices
to collaborative theatre presentations.
Theatre Indicator(s)
3.1 Apply a variety of dramatic structures to
theatrical presentations.
Theatre Objective(s)
3.1.a Use dramatic narrative conventions to
write and perform monologues, scenes, and
plays that are based on personal experiences,
real or improvised situations, or historical
events.
Reading/English Language Arts Content Standard(s)
1.0 General Reading Processes
Topic E: Students will use a variety of strategies to understand
what they read (construct meaning).
Reading/English Language Arts Content Indicator(s)
1.4 Use strategies to demonstrate understanding of the text (after
reading).
Reading/English Language Arts Content Objective(s)
4.a Identify and explain information directly stated in the text.
4.b Draw inferences and/or conclusions and make
generalizations.
4.c Summarize and paraphrase.
Objective(s) (Connecting the content areas)
Students will create effective tableaux and improvised scenes using the basic acting tools and skills, focusing on
key moments in the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare that reflect their comprehension of the text,
understanding of the feelings of the characters, ability to predict/infer, and ability to create interior monologues that
fit the characters.
Key Arts Vocabulary
tableau, interior monologue
Key Reading English Language Arts Vocabulary
prediction/inference
Prior Knowledge Students Need for This Lesson
Arts
• Acting tools and skills
• Tableau
Reading/English Language Arts
• The plot of the play
• The sequence of events in the play
MATI Arts Integrated Lesson Plan 1
copyright © 2010 msde

Materials and Resources
Materials and Resources for the Class
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Materials and Resources for the Teacher
Selected scenes from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
MATI Arts Integrated Lesson Plan 2
copyright © 2010 msde

Lesson Development/Procedures (including motivation, modeling, guided practice, and independent
practice)
• Students will participate in acting tool and skill building activities to prepare them for the lesson.
• The teacher will provide students with a brief synopsis of a scene previously covered from the play
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
• Students will work in small groups or pairs. They will discuss the scene and create a tableau that
captures the key moment and emotions the characters feel in the scene.
• Then students will plan an improvised scene in which they predict/infer what could happen next after the
moment in the play. The improvisation should last no more than one minute. All characters in the scene
should speak. The improvised scene should end in a final tableau. The students should be prepared to
share a brief internal monologue (30 seconds) that includes the feelings of the character when the
teacher uses the “Shoulder Tap” for the final tableau.
• The students will receive a rubric of what needs to be included in the tableau and scene as they plan.
This rubric will serve as an assessment and scoring tool for the assignment.
• Students will present the tableau, scene, and internal monologue.
• The teacher will facilitate a reflective discussion about the presentation based on the rubric.
• Students will have an opportunity to revise and redo their presentations.
Closure/Summary
• The teacher will facilitate a reflective discussion about the presentation based on the rubric.
o Students will identify groups that used the rubric criteria well and explain their choices.
o Students will reflect on their own ability to meet the criteria of the rubric and set a personal
goal for improvement for the next lesson using tableaux and/or internal monologue.
• Students will then return to the text to read the next scenes in order to confirm or refute their
predictions.
_________________________________________________________________________
Assessment (Description/Tools)
A rubric that includes the qualities of an effective tableau
• Point of concentration, stillness, levels, use of accurate information, inferred dialogue for the Shoulder
Tap, and a title
The qualities of an effective internal monologue
• Dialogue that accurately reflects the character and the character’s circumstances
• Voice tone, pitch, and expression that fit the character’s personality and feelings as well as the
character’s circumstances
The qualities of an effective inference
• Combines clues from the story with prior knowledge
Reflective discussion on the effectiveness of the scenes and tableaux.
Revisions based on the discussions.
Lesson Extensions
• Make further revisions and improvements on the tableaux and scenes.
• Transform the tableaux into a human slide show in which each tableaux is presented in rapid
succession like a PowerPoint or slide show.
MATI Arts Integrated Lesson Plan 3
copyright © 2010 msde

MATI Arts Integrated Lesson Plan 4
copyright © 2010 msde