Lesson Name: SGA: Small Group Acting

 

Category: Canadian History

Course Code: CHC 2D/2P

Created By: Mark Melnyk, Adrienne Chong and David Butler

School: Markville Secondary School

Level: Grade 10

Time: 1-4 Periods, throughout the course.

 

 

 

 


Rationale:

Small Group Acting (SGA) attempts to re-live, portray, analyze and role play the events of Canada’s history. They work best when the actors make a real commitment to bring the events and facts to life with costumes, music and documents.

 

SGA can be set up to work throughout the year. We use them each unit, often as a review exercise of the main people and events of the unit under study. We will often set groups at the beginning of the year, allowing students to work with a certain group of students that they might not work with otherwise. SGA at its best brings the actors and the audience into a virtual time machine, transporting the class back into history.

 

 

Expectations:

 

Overall Expectations

    • demonstrate an understanding of the elements of Canadian identity;
    • demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which outside forces and events have shaped Canada’s policies;
    • ask questions, identify problems, and effectively use historical research methods to investigate topics and issues in history;
    • use a variety of information sources effectively when researching historical topics or issues, accurately record relevant information, and then organize this information in a meaningful way;
    • analyse and evaluate information when researching historical topics or issues;
    • communicate effectively the results of research in presentations, and demonstrate an ability to apply insights from history to other situations.

 

Communicating Research Results and Applying Insights

  • make reasoned generalizations or appropriate predictions based on research;
  • demonstrate competence in research and writing (e.g., gathering information, building an argument, supporting the argument with evidence, writing clearly, editing);
  • express ideas and arguments in a coherent manner during discussions and debates, or in graphic displays;
  • demonstrate, after participating in dramatizations of historical events, insights into historical figures’ situations and decisions.

 

 

Instructions:

 

  1. Usually in the first unit, the concept of Small Group Acting is introduced. The teacher should explain the importance of storyboarding and making a good script. Basic drama techniques are useful here, and you might want to bring in a drama teacher to discuss acting, blocking and costume considerations.
  2. Groups of 4-6 are established and assigned a number. For the rest of the year minimal instructions will be required as all you will need to do is assign topics (for example: group 3 is doing the Battle of Normandy, the students will know exactly what they need to do).
  3. Students are given a set amount of time to prepare the skit. Normally we introduce the topics, then give students 2-3 75 minute periods to prepare their skits. It is useful to start on a Wednesday, giving students Thursday, Friday and the weekend to improve the final product.
  4.  In the allotted time they must:

-         brainstorm ideas (identify the main ideas and how they want to perform the skit)

-         develop a script (they can not read from a paper during your performance)

-         establish what types of media they will be using

-         develop a costume list and who will bring what

-         practice the skit (run through so that the performance is professional)

-         perform the skit for the class

  1. Often near the end of the course when students are comfortable with SGA you can do SGA speed rounds, where you hand out topics and have students improvise on the spot as a review activity. The time allotted depends on teacher expectations, time constraints and the students involvement.
  2. SGA is a great stepping stone for Heritage Minutes, short film productions, etc
  3. **Enrichment** Accelerated students can establish a “Canadian History Film Club” where they develop a movie about an area of Canadian History over the course of the term.

 

Materials:

  1. Make sure that students list what they will need, typically:

-         CD player or stereo

-         Overhead projector (useful for creating backgrounds)

-         Costumes if available

  1. The initial SGA will require the following handouts:

Instructions: http://www.markville.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/history/history/cansga.html

Storyboarding: http://www.histori.ca/historica/eng_site/minutes/make2.html

Blank Storyboard:http://www.markville.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/history/history/cansgastoryboard.html

 

 

 

 

Assessment & Evaluation:

  1. Students will be assessed at all stages through observation, questioning and teacher suggestions for improvement, ideas and energy.
  2. Students should be given a copy of a:


SGA Role Play Assessment Rubric http://www.markville.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/history/history/can_sgarubric.html

 

Group Assessment Rubric

http://www.markville.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/history/history/can_sgaprocessrubric.html