Drama / Year 7 and 8

Curriculum content descriptions

Develop and refine expressive skills in voice and movement to communicate ideas and dramatic action in different performance styles and conventions, including contemporary Australian drama styles developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dramatists (ACADRM043)

Elaborations
  • developing and refining vocal qualities of audibility, clarity and contrast through control of pace, pitch, dynamics and use of pause and silence
  • developing use of performance techniques and conventions relevant to selected performance styles, for example, refining use of the body to communicate through movement and stillness, and through realistic and non-realistic movement; and exploring ways to transition between scenes
  • employing voice and movement appropriate to situation and manipulating space and time in dramatic action to heighten tension, focus action and shape meaning in a scripted drama
  • adapting facial expression, posture, gesture, movement and voice (including accent) to portray age, power and disposition in a specific performance style, such as contemporary Australian styles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dramatists
  • developing techniques to engage an audience, for example, by expressing and experiencing character relationships through vocal dynamics and tone, eye contact, proximity and space
  • Considering viewpoints – evaluations: For example – How successful was the director in expressing the intent clearly to the audience? How well did the performers create role or character and use expressive skills?
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Intercultural understanding Intercultural understanding
  • Personal and social capability Personal and social capability
Cross-curriculum priorities
ScOT terms

Speaking,  Aboriginal art,  Torres Strait Islander art,  Plots (Stories),  Acting

Text

Drama activities for Stage 4

These activities have been written to introduce students in Years 7 and 8 to the study and performance of playscripts. They include practical drama, responding to dramatic and film texts and activities to encourage scriptwriting. Any of these activities can be integrated into any unit that you are teaching to develop concepts ...

Interactive

Beats and rhymes

This class develops your vocal skills for performance. Write a Slam Poem or a Rap and then perform them for an audience.

Interactive

Drop the mic – hip hop and Shakespeare

A fresh and fun approach to Hip Hop theatre exploring, words, rhythm, movement, voice and creative writing. Drop The Mic Hip Hop Theatre class aims to develop voice, rhythm, physicality and character skills.

Interactive

Make ‘em laugh

See how effective comedy is in communicating ideas and engaging an audience. Good performances will have moments of humour and seriousness in order to provide variety and interest in the stories being told.

Interactive

Voice and accents – Part 1

Stars of stage and screen learn about breathing, and where the voice comes from to enhance their performances. You will go through some exercises in preparation for using your voice effectively, as well as experiment with tongue twisters.

Interactive

I like to move it, move it!

Engage the body to tell stories and entertain audiences. Explore the techniques of expressive physical movement to communicate ideas and create dramatic meaning. Students devise a story using mime, movement and gesture.

Interactive

Lip sync challenge

Students will develop expressive movement skills to perform a Lip Sync Challenge. They will explore character, rhythm, movement, sound and tension and reflect on their own performance skills.

Interactive

Voice and accents – part 2

Stars of stage and screen learn about breathing, vocal warms and how to use different accents to enhance their performances. You will go through some exercises in preparation for using your voice effectively and learning to use the Standard American Accent.

Video

How to be funny

What is the key to being funny? As Tim Ferguson explains, if you can laugh, you can write comedy. Has something funny happened to you lately? Or is there something in particular that you find puzzling or amusing about the world around you? Put your thoughts on paper and experiment with telling your story in different ways. ...

Online

Be on the Safe Side Year 7-8 The Arts (Drama)

This is a unit of work that uses the concept of rail safety and the setting of the rail network to explore character, roles and situations; there is a particular focus on bullying and the bystander effect. Learning opportunities for students include scripting, performing and revising their own drama. The resource includes: ...

Image

Indigenous Australian collection

This federated search from the QAGOMA database features a selection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks from the collection. The searchable database provides artwork images, background information about the artist and the artwork, a map of major Indigenous regions in Australia, classroom activities, a glossary ...