Creating Group Performance

Lesson Overview

This is Lesson 12 of 16 in the "Exploring Love Through Drama" unit for Year 7 students. The focus is on collaboratively developing a group performance about love. The lesson encourages student conversation, collaboration, and creativity. The teacher will assign roles based on students' strengths to support differentiation and engagement.

• Duration: 60 minutes
• Class size: 25 students
• Subject: Drama, Year 7
• Unit: Exploring Love Through Drama
• Lesson title: Creating a Group Performance

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Learning Intentions (WALT)

We Are Learning To:

• Collaboratively develop a group performance exploring the theme of love.
• Plan and outline a group performance using drama elements and conventions.
• Assign roles within the group based on individual strengths.
• Communicate ideas clearly through discussion and drama practices.

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Success Criteria

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Work constructively in groups to brainstorm and agree on a performance concept related to love.
• Create a clear and structured outline of their group's performance.
• Demonstrate understanding of roles such as actor, director, designer, or scriptwriter in their group.
• Use respectful communication and collaboration to develop their drama piece.
• Apply elements of drama such as character, movement, space, and voice in their planning.

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Australian Curriculum Links

Drama Content Descriptions (Years 7 and 8):

• AC9ADR8C01: Improvise and devise drama and/or interpret scripted drama, manipulating elements of drama and applying conventions relevant to the style/form.
• AC9ADR8D01: Develop performance skills relevant to selected drama styles and/or forms.
• AC9ADR8C02: Evaluate and refine use of elements of drama and/or conventions to shape and sustain dramatic action and/or communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning.
• AC9ADR8D02: Reflect on their own and others' drama to inform choices when manipulating elements of drama and/or conventions to shape dramatic action.

These curriculum points support collaborative devising and refining of drama performance with an emphasis on reflection and role assignment relevant to student strengths.

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Resources Needed

• Open rehearsal or performance space
• Whiteboard or chart paper for group planning notes
• Paper and pens for scripting and note-taking
• Optional: props or costume items from prior lessons
• Dyslexia-friendly printed templates for role descriptions and group planning (clear fonts, large spacing)
• Timer or clock

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Lesson Structure and Timing

Time	Activity	Description
0–10 min	Warm-up and Introduction	Brief whole-class discussion to revisit the theme of love and prior learning. Students discuss quick brainstorming questions about love in drama and personal understanding. Teacher outlines lesson objectives and success criteria.
10–15 min	Group Formation and Role Assignment	Students are organised into groups of 4-5. Teacher assigns group roles (director, actor, scriptwriter, designer, stage manager) matching students' strengths to encourage differentiated participation. Teacher provides role descriptions in dyslexia-friendly formats.
15–35 min	Collaborative Performance Planning	Groups collaboratively brainstorm ideas and develop a performance outline related to love. They explore characters, settings, and dramatic elements (voice, movement, space). Students map their ideas, decide on scenes, and plan transitions. Teacher circulates to support groups and prompt deeper thinking with questions.
35–50 min	Group Sharing and Feedback	Groups share their outlines with another group or whole class, practising respectful listening and providing positive, constructive feedback. Students use guiding questions about clarity of ideas and role effectiveness.
50–60 min	Reflection and Next Steps	Whole-class discussion reflecting on the collaborative process and challenges. Teacher sets expectations for the next lesson where students will rehearse their performance. Students individually write down one success and one aspect to improve about group work.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Role Assignment: Assign group roles based on student strengths and preferences to support engagement and confidence.
• Flexible Grouping: Mix mixed-ability groups to encourage peer support and cooperative learning.
• Dyslexia-friendly Supports: Provide role descriptions and planning templates in clear fonts (e.g., Comic Sans or Arial), high contrast, and with simplified language.
• Visual Aids: Use graphic organisers for planning the performance outline.
• Verbal & Written Options: Allow students to express ideas verbally or visually if writing is a challenge.
• Encourage Peer Support: Encourage more confident students to scaffold others during planning and feedback stages.

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Teaching Tips and Notes

• Encourage students to communicate openly and listen respectfully within groups.
• Use questioning strategies to deepen inquiry, e.g., “How can you show love through movement or voice?”, “What is your character’s motivation?”
• Celebrate creativity and diverse interpretations of love.
• Monitor group dynamics to ensure all voices are heard, gently redirect dominating students.
• Incorporate humour and fun to maintain energy and enthusiasm.
• Link back frequently to success criteria and WALT to maintain focus.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observation of group collaboration and role adherence.
• Review of the performance outlines created by each group for clarity, creativity, and understanding of drama elements and conventions.
• Informal peer feedback during sharing segment.
• Individual student reflections written at lesson end to assess self-awareness of collaborative skills.

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This lesson skilfully integrates the Australian Curriculum's drama learning objectives by fostering improvisation, devising, reflecting, and collaborative creation. It leverages role assignment for differentiation and utilises inclusive strategies to support diverse learners' participation and success. The conversational and fun approach aligns with your teaching style while deepening students' understanding of the complex theme of love in drama.

Please let me know if you want suggestions for subsequent lessons or adaptations!