Theatre Arts at Faith Christian School
At FCS our theatre arts program is offered to elementary, middle, and high
school students. The content and learning environments follow the NC
Standard Course of Study and the National Standards for Arts Education.
We have three basic levels of instruction to meet the needs of our students.
1. Creative Drama for Elementary School Students:
At the elementary level we offer Creative Drama which
is the practice of teaching drama as a creative activity where the emphasis
is on personal development of the participants rather than on performance or
an audience. This is the most appropriate method of utilizing drama
with K-5 learners and is also used with learners of all ages where the
desired outcome is the development of the ability to make creative choices
using the body, voice, and imagination. Creative drama is a very
effective tool both for introducing learners to drama in a safe, low risk
environment and for integrating with other elements in the core curriculum
such as a unit of study or a particular piece of literature.
Sample Unit Descriptions for Elementary Level
Creative Drama:
Sea Creatures for K-1: Read/show a variety of books from
fiction storybooks to non-fiction age appropriate depictions of sea animals.
Discuss environment and types of creatures in the environment.
Students use body, voice, and imagination to create sea creatures.
Focus on Rainbow Fish and have students recreate scenes or characters using
parallel play.
Insects for 2-3: Students research types of insects to find one
that begins with the same sounds as their names. Play name game using
insects that match names. Review body parts and in small groups create
an insect using group member to become parts of the body of the insect
complete with motions and sounds. Emphasize colony and working as a
team through contrasting ants and grasshoppers.
Creating Fables for 4-5: Read, visualize, and act out various
Aesop’s Fables. Discuss the components of fables. In small
groups create and write original fables. Proofread, edit, and
illustrate fable. Rehearse and perform original fable to share with
classroom teachers and other groups. Publish fables in a book
including illustrations and photos of shared performance.
2. Introduction to Theatre for Middle School
Students:
At the middle school level we offer Introduction to Theatre. For
middle school students it is essential to offer drama with an emphasis on
exploring and developing personal interests, skills, and knowledge related
to multiple aspects of drama and theatre. An age appropriate
exploration will include historical, performance, and technical aspects.
Focus is on both personal development and beginning level mastery of content
and skills associated with each aspect of drama. Improvisation and
self-evaluation are key elements for these grades.
Sample Unit Descriptions for Middle School Level
Introduction to Theatre:
Social Issues: Brainstorm important social issues such as peer
pressure, cheating, and excluding others. Have students work in small
groups to create realistic scenes showing students in situations dealing
with social issues. Depict each scene with a negative outcome and a
positive outcome. Share scenes and evaluate the work of yourself, your
group, and other groups.
Greek Theatre with Nursery Rhymes: Study the origins of theatre in
ancient Greece and focus on the function of the chorus in Greek Tragedy.
Use nursery rhymes and have small groups create a telling of their nursery
rhyme performing it as a Greek chorus.
Who’s Got Style?: Focus on defining and distinguishing style
in a variety of areas (clothes, music, architecture, novels, etc.)
Create and recreate short improvisations in a variety of styles/genres.
Have students work in small groups to choose a fairy tale or traditional
children’s tale and create a performance of that story in a set style/genre
chosen by the group. Performance can be with live actors or students
can additionally create puppets.
3. Theatre Arts Electives for High School
Students:
At the high school level students have the option to continue their
exploration of theatre arts through elective choices. We offer
Theatrical Performance and Technical Theatre.
In Theatrical Performance
the students will explore acting and directing through exercises,
improvisations, informal and formal productions with emphasis on relaxation;
concentration of attention; imagination; physical and vocal choices;
ensemble; scene study; and monologues.
Course Objectives. By the end of the
course students will be able to:
In Technical Theatre the students will explore technical theatre, design, and non-performance aspects of theatre through activities, exercises, and field study with emphasis on creative thinking, problem solving, and collaboration.
Course Objectives. By the end of the course students will be able to: