Teacher: Michelle
Solomon
Arts Discipline: Theater
Grade Level: High School
Team: D
Topic: Africa & Its Influence
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to view the lesson plans of other Team D members.
Unit Overview
Essential Understandings:
-
African culture encompasses many rituals and traditions that are
pervasive in their society.
-
Traditions are based on the concept of repetition over time.
-
Repetition is apparent in African art, music, theater, and dance.
-
African culture has influenced western society with the concept
of repetition in western art, music, theater, and dance.
Learner Outcomes and Expectations:
-
Students will identify the presence of repetition in art, music,
theater, and dance.
-
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the influence of
African culture on western culture.
-
Students will create visual art, music, stories, and dance that
reflect African rituals and traditions.
Essential Questions:
-
What is the role of rituals/traditions in African society?
-
What influence has rituals/traditions of African arts had on Western
society?
-
How does repetition demonstrate this influence?
-
What makes rituals/traditions timeless?
Assessment:
-
Students should be able to explain the influence of African art
forms on western culture.
-
Students should be able to state the role of repetition in various
art forms, and to distinguish examples of repetition in their
own surroundings.
-
Students should be able to create art/music/dance/theater that
is based on African rituals and traditions, and demonstrates an
understanding of its context.
Rationale
This unit will
enable students to understand the role of the arts in the TRADITIONS
AND RITUALS in African society and culture. they will see and
hear that repetition plays an important role in society. Students
will understand that even though Africa is a vast continent, it is
possible to focus on one area to explain the traditions of the people
without generalizing about the entire continent.
Students will explore
the interrelationships of the Arts in Africa and how they have influenced
western cultures. They will see that the role of the visual
arts, music and story telling are timeless in understanding Africa
and its influence.
Theater
Lesson Plan: Storytelling in Ghana
Day
One
Objectives:
1.
The student will explore Ghana's history and culture to gain greater
understanding of the area, culture, customs, traditions and people.
2.
The student will examine the art of storytelling through music, costumes,
artwork and vocal recitation.
3.
The student
will listen to and read several folktales from Ghana.
4. The student will
be able to write a story of his or her own.
5. The student will
be able to relate folktales of Ghana to stories from other cultures.
6. The student will
be able to apply storytelling procedures to his/her story.
Materials:
- Ananse Stories
- Pictures: Ghana,
clothes, drums, etc.
- Music from Ghana
Warm-up:
Journal: What do you know about African storytelling?
Procedures:
1. Give
a background of the Ashanti people of Ghana
a. history of
rituals and traditions
b. give examples
of the music
c. show examples
of the artwork
d. discuss traditional
clothing
2.
Background on storytelling
a. What is storytelling?
b. What is its purpose?
c. How is it done?
d. Where and under
what situations are stories told?
3.
Read / perform a story (African music in the background)
4.
Discussion
Homework:
read another story
Lesson Plan:
Storytelling in Ghana
Day Two
Objectives:
The student will
explore Ghana's history and culture to gain greater understanding of
the area, culture, customs, traditions and people.
The student will
examine the art of storytelling through music, costumes, artwork and
vocal recitation.
The student will listen to and read several folktales from Ghana.
The student will
be able to write a story of his or her own.
The student will
be able to relate folktales of Ghana to stories from other cultures.
The student will
be able to apply storytelling procedures to his/her story.
Materials:
Ananse Stories
Pictures: Ghana, clothes, drums, etc.
Music from Ghana
Warm-up:
Journal: What
similarities do you notice between your story and other folktales you
know?
Procedures:
1.
Discussion
a. What are the similarities and differences between this
and other stories?
b. Is there a message and how is it presented?
c. Does this remind you of anything from
today's society?
stories?
d.
Is there repetition among the
2. Break
students into groups
a. choose a moral or value to write a
story around
b. Choose your characters and decide what
the general action will be.
c. Write your story
Keep in mind:
Elements of the original
story
Characteristics
What lesson you are
teaching
Who your audience is
How do you tell the
story?
Lesson Plan:
Storytelling in Ghana
Day Three
Objectives:
The student will
explore Ghana's history and culture to gain greater understanding of
the area, culture, customs, traditions and people.
The student will
examine the art of storytelling through music, costumes, artwork and
vocal recitation.
The student will listen to and read several folktales from Ghana.
The student will
be able to write a story of his or her own.
The student will
be able to relate folktales of Ghana to stories from other cultures.
The student will
be able to apply storytelling procedures to his/her story.
Materials:
Ananse Stories
Pictures: Ghana, clothes, drums, etc.
Music from Ghana
Procedures:
1. Continue
Group work
2. After
stories are written:
a. Create puppets to represent your characters
b. Choose background music
c. Practice performing your story with
puppets
d. Be prepared to present tomorrow.
Lesson Plan:
Storytelling in Ghana
Day Four/Five
Objectives
The student will
explore Ghana's history and culture to gain greater understanding
of the area, culture, customs, traditions and people.
The student will
examine the art of storytelling through music, costumes, artwork and
vocal recitation.
The student will listen to and read several folktales from Ghana.
The student will
be able to write a story of his or her own.
The student will
be able to relate folktales of Ghana to stories from other cultures.
The student will
be able to apply storytelling procedures to his/her story.
Materials:
Ananse Stories
Pictures: Ghana, clothes, drums, etc.
Music from Ghana
Procedures:
1. Present
projects
2. Follow up
a. What did or did not work?
b. How did the stories teach?
c. Did the music affect your attitude toward
the story?
d. Did the characters and morals / values being
taught make sense with the story?
e. Did you look to any other familiar stories
for guidance?