Grade: 6

Time: Five Days:

• Script Writing in Language Arts - two to three class periods of 50 minutes
• Backdrop preparations - two to three class periods of 50 minutes
• Final preparations (practicing script, completing backdrops, costume design, etc) - two to three class periods of 50 minutes

These activities will not have to be offered on separate days. There will be approximately 5 days to use in the most effective manner possible. On several days, blocks of time have been set aside for students to work uninterruptedly on scripts, backdrops and costumes.

Resources/ Materials:

Scripts:

• Students will need the information gathered from the research stations and/or the HyperStudio presentation information

Backdrops/Costumes:

• To create the backdrops, the students need to have a large refrigerator box and the supplies necessary to create background scenery: many paint color choices, sponges, yardsticks, rulers, scissors, plastic wrap, cellophane, props, newspaper, and any other supplies deemed appropriate.
• To create the costumes, students first are presented with a lesson on medieval costume apparel. They are shown the possibilities of clothing that may be in their closet already. They are given hints as to how to change them into an appropriate costume with little or no money. Students then draw a costume that they feel is fitting of the character they will be portraying. They get this approved, and then are asked to bring it in for a visual approval.

Activity:

1. Students have research and information needed on grids and in a HyperStudio format at this time. They will need this available to them at this time in order to do the script writing.

2. Students work in teams as "Expert" groups on creating a script or dramatization of their topic assigned to them. This is done as a whole sixth grade, and students are not necessarily in their homerooms at this time. They will go to an assigned teacher who will be in charge of guiding their work. For example, all students assigned to portray famous Mathematicians, Artists, and Church and Cathedral characters will be working in my room. I go over the rubric on the first meeting with this group so that they know the requirements for the script (facts needed, length of time, and general guidelines).

3. "Expert" groups create a script based on the necessary components needed to portray the characters or events of which they are responsible.

4. Teacher evaluates and gives suggestions. Once it has met the teacher's approval and rubric specifications, the students begin drafting a backdrop proposal.

5. Students meet for a two-hour time span, two to three days as needed. The first portion of the time is set aside for script memorization and practice. They use scripts as needed, but will need to be memorized entirely by the Renaissance Faire evaluation and evening presentation. The second portion of this block of time is devoted to backdrop work. After the backdrop proposal is cleared, students begin sketching and painting the scenery onto the backdrop.

6. Students practice scripts in front of backdrops. They perform in front of peers for suggestions and constructive criticism. All comments must be stated in a positive manner.

7. Students continue to practice, with a dress rehearsal the day of the performance in front of their fifth grade peers.  

Purpose/Objectives:

Students make preparations for the Renaissance Faire presentation. Scripts, backdrops, and costumes are completed and ready for the evening event!

Students of all ability levels succeed at this portion of the lesson because there are so many different ways of presenting and portraying the information. Strengths are used to accomplish the tasks at hand.

Evaluation:

Students will be evaluated in language arts for their script writing. A rubric will be used to determine the grade based on a point total.

Students will be evaluated on the presentation of their script at the Renaissance Faire. Again, the rubric that was discussed with them previous to the start of this work will be used.

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