The Social Climate at the Turn of the Century
Mrs. Reynolds, your employer, will assign your team to one of these themes. Your team will then need to create a play, at least 5 minutes long, about this theme. Your play must include at least five important points about your theme. Try to show your audience why the subject of your play is important and how it changed people's lives both then and now.
Your team will also need to write a short narrative to be read before the play begins. The narrative should highlight the points your team will try to make during the play. Your narrative should also set the stage for your play by giving the audience information such as the time, place, and setting.
Playwright:The Playwright is responsible for writing the actual script for the play. The other members of the group will provide creaive input, but the Playwright will be held accountable for actually writing the script on paper.
Narrative Writer:The Narrative Writer is responsible for writing the narrative that is to be read before the play. Your group may also choose to add narrative throughout the play. The other members of the group will provide input, but the Narrative Writer will be held accountable for actually writing the narrative on paper.
2.Mrs. Reynolds, your employer, will tell you the theme on which your group will be working. If your group does not have a theme, see Mrs. Reynolds at this time.
3.Once you have your theme, you and the members of your group will need to research your assigned subject area. This is the time to do a lot of reading about your subject. You may also save and print interesting pictures that you can use as references for your prop designs. Take notes of any important facts that you will need to remember. Reference materials may include related web sights listed in the Resources section, CD-ROMS's, related books, encylopedias, television programs, and videos.
4. Get together with your group members and discuss your findings. Make a list of at least five ways in which this person or movement changed the lives of people living at that time and in the future. Also, make notes on any other important information that you find. You will want to include dates, places, and many interesting historical facts!
5.Think of a scenes that your group could perform in order to show the important parts of this person's life or this movement. If your group gets stuck, try some of these helpful hints.
If your theme is a person, remember that the scene does not have to directly include that person. It may be other people at the time simply discussing this important person. In the case of a movement, you might choose to show those actually involved politically or others who are more indirectly affected by the movement. Whatever you choose, make sure that the play shows how people's lives were changed by your theme!
6.Write out the parts for your play. Use conversations in your play to highlight the important points of your theme. Show the audience what was happening through your actions. Write in the script where people should move to and when.
7.Write out an introduction to be read by the narrator. This should include a lot of information about your theme. Give your audience a lot of background information about your theme and tell them which points you plan to highlight in your play. Also, include in the introduction any needed information about the time, place, and setting for your play. Your team may also choose to add narration during the play, say for example, if you wanted to switch scenes. Moreover, narration at the end of the play may be suitable in some cases. Be creative!
8.Make copies of the play so that everyone on the team has one. Practice reading the play out loud. Rehearse your play so that all team members have it memorized and know where everyone will be moving to and when. Practice being expressive with your voice and actions.
9.Collect, design, and/or create any needed props, costumes, or backdrops that you will use in your play. These things will enhance your play and give the audience more information about the early 1900's. See if you can find appropriate clothes for the times.
10.Make a final video taping of your portion of the documentary during class time. This will be done as a class. Taping dates will be announced at a future time.
