Teacher:
Joseph Luparello Walkersville
Middle School (contact Joseph)
Arts Discipline: Theater
Grade Level: High School
Team: G
Topic: Africa & its Influence
Click here
to view the lesson plans of other Team G members.
Click here
to view the power point presentation to accompany this lesson
Click here
for the African Storytelling Worksheet
Click here
to view the African Storytelling Chart
Big
Idea: Communication
Essential
Understandings:
1. Develop
communication skills through the arts.
2. Story
telling is an essential component of communication in the African
culture.
3. The student
will describe dramatic styles representing different cultures
using a variety of symbol systems including movement and music.
Essential
Question:
What are
the ideas communicated through the medium of African story telling?
Lesson
Objective:
The student
will develop an understanding of the essential components of
African story telling. The student will write and perform a
story in the style of African story telling, using an experience
from their own lives.
Lesson
Procedure:
1. Introduce
the idea of African story telling by providing a brief historical
background of Africa and how story telling is used as a communicative
device.
2. Introduce
the various forms of African story telling, i.e. myths, folktales,
tales of everyday life (comedic and dramatic).
3. Choose
Selections from each and read them to the students.
4. Ask students
to think about an emotionally distressing experience in their
life. It can be from anytime in their life including the present.
Reassure them that they will not be required to relate their
story to anybody including the teacher. (Of course, unless they
want to.) Explain to students that they will be transforming
their story into the style of African story telling; that their
story will in no shape or form resemble their original story.
This will hopefully allow the students to feel at ease with
retelling a painful moment in their life.
5. Pass out
worksheets. Take them through the worksheet showing them how
to transform their story. Be sure to highlight symbolism, exchanging
American names with African names, using animals to replace
humans, etc.
6. Give students
an example by using an experience from your own life and retelling
it in the style of African story telling.
7. Have students
start writing their stories.
8. Integrate
dance, music and art.
Assessment:
Performance of
their story. If integration with art and music and dance is possible,
assess when all the levels of performance have been added.
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