Zooming In on Drama Club Planning and Preparation
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Outline
Planning the Drama Club: Introduction and Initial Steps
Melissa Milner introduces the podcast and the sixth season, expressing excitement about the growth in listeners.
Melissa shares her process for planning the drama club, mentioning the need to decide on the number of sessions and activities.
The first session involved a name game and short skits from Drama Notebook, which were well-received by the students.
Melissa explains the decision-making process, where students voted for a full-length play over skits and monologues.
First Session Activities and Student Engagement
The first session included a name game to help students get to know each other, with some fourth and fifth graders participating.
Students performed short skits from Drama Notebook, which were humorous and involved props like a parachute.
Melissa emphasizes the excitement and motivation among students, who were eager to gather props and block their skits.
The session ended with students discussing potential performance options, such as plays related to SEL values or radio plays for the school podcast.
Deciding on the Play and Initial Readings
Students voted for a full-length play to perform for their parents, eliminating other options like traveling drama club performances.
Melissa shared a Google slide with various play options, including performances for assemblies and radio plays.
By the end of the first session, students had read through three different play excerpts, showing enthusiasm for the chosen play.
Melissa plans to print out scripts that are appropriate for the cast size and length, aiming for a 40-minute play.
Planning the Sessions and Casting
Melissa outlines the need to plan the sessions effectively, considering the limited time available.
She discusses the importance of casting, noting that students' performance in skits and readings will inform casting decisions.
The casting process will involve a combination of instinct and observation, with students starting to learn their lines immediately.
Melissa plans to block the play in the following session, with students memorizing their lines independently.
Finalizing the Play and Preparing for Performance
Melissa emphasizes the need to map out the calendar, showing students what needs to be accomplished in each session.
Students will be responsible for finding their own costumes and props, as session time will be focused on rehearsing.
The session before the performance will be a dress rehearsal, leaving only five sessions for practice.
Melissa considers adding elements like monologs, skits, or improv games to enhance the performance, despite the time constraints.
Conclusion and Future Plans
Melissa expresses excitement about the challenge of preparing a play in a limited time and the students' enthusiasm.
She mentions the possibility of a follow-up episode to update listeners on the progress of the drama club.
Melissa recommends Drama Notebook for educators looking for fun and engaging activities for their students.
She concludes by thanking listeners and providing links to her blog transcripts and social media handles for further updates.