Blueprint for Teaching & Learning in Theater

Student development and theater

* This post is one of a note after reading about the Student development and theater by Blueprint.

Early childhood and the grade 2 benchmark

• Young children respond with joy and energy to creative play, drama and storytelling.
• They like to imitate adult roles and play dress-up
• Theater experiences help them develop basic physical skills in self-control, and understanding of the relationship between their body and the space around them, and appropriate and imaginative use of voices
  
  

Elementary students and the grade 5 benchmark

• Children become increasingly keen observers of their world
• They enjoy inventing games, working cooperatively on group projects, and creating secret codes and personal languages.
• They have developed a more detailed sense of their bodies, voice, abilities and interests.
• They are interested in real world applications to learning and will challenge themselves to achieve new and diverse skills in theater making
• Learning in theater develops physical skills and vocal skills, and facilitates understanding of character and motivation.
  
  

Middle school students and the grade 8 benchmark
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• They are increasingly concerned with meaning and truth, both personal and social, and are beginning to think in more abstract ways and to speculate about origins and outcomes
• The turbulent emotions and rapid physical changes of this age group present both challenges and chance for the growth of skills and expression in theater
• Theater study refines physical and vocal skills, and allows students to differentiate and make personal choices
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High school students and the grade 12 benchmark

• High school students woh are majoring in theater are ready to use their capacity for sustained, detailed work and critical inquiry to advance their skills in all areas of theater learning.
• They develop an awareness of the standards and requirements of the university and professional theater arenas, and identify personal goals regarding future study and work in theater
• Deep experiences in creating theater, and understanding theater history, the cultural context of theater and aesthetic concerns, lead to the emergence of their personal artistic voice.