Creative Expression

Overview

This lesson plan is tailored for Year 2 drama students in an Australian educational setting. It focuses on exploring and describing how drama can communicate ideas. Drawing from the Australian Curriculum: The Arts, this lesson emphasises student engagement through the exploration of personal, cultural, and social worlds.

Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 19 students
Curriculum Reference: The Arts – Drama, Foundation to Year 2

Objectives

• Knowledge: Understand how drama can represent and express ideas and stories.
• Skills: Develop basic drama techniques to convey ideas effectively.
• Understanding: Recognise personal and collective narratives in dramatic performances.

Materials

• A selection of simple props (e.g., hats, scarves)
• Pieces of coloured fabric
• Pre-recorded sounds of different environments (e.g., jungle, city, ocean)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed story prompts

Lesson Structure

Introduction (10 minutes)

Opening Circle:
Gather students in a circle. Begin with a warm-up exercise: "Pass the Drama." Each student makes a simple expression (e.g., surprise, joy) and passes it to the next person. This helps students get into a creative mindset and prepares them for thinking about how expressions tell stories.

Discussion:
Introduce the topic by asking students questions like, "What stories can we tell without using words?" and "How do actors show their ideas?" Ensure students understand that drama is a powerful way to communicate ideas.

Exploration (15 minutes)

Activity 1: Environment Exploration
Divide the class into small groups. Assign each group a sound recording and have them listen to it while exploring movements and expressions that represent that environment (e.g., a jungle with animal sounds). Provide props and fabric to enrich their exploration.

Debrief:
As a class, discuss how different sounds inspired various movements and stories. Highlight how drama uses these elements to communicate settings and ideas.

Main Activity (20 minutes)

Activity 2: Story Sculptures
Provide each group with a printed story prompt (e.g., "A day at the beach," "A zoo adventure"). Each group uses their bodies to create "story sculptures" that represent parts of the story. Encourage creativity and teamwork.

Presentation:
Each group presents their sculpture sequence to the class without speaking. After each presentation, facilitate a discussion by asking questions like, "What story did they tell?" and "How did they show different parts of the story?"

Reflection (15 minutes)

Feedback Circle:
Bring the class back into a circle. Open the floor for students to share their thoughts on the activities. Ask reflective questions such as, "What did you learn about telling stories with your body?" and "How can we use drama to tell different kinds of stories?"

Concluding Thoughts:
Summarise the lesson by highlighting key takeaways on how drama communicates ideas and stories beyond words. Encourage students to think about how they can use drama in their everyday life.

Assessment

• Observational Assessment: During group work and presentations, observe students’ ability to express and communicate ideas through movements and expressions.
• Participation and Engagement: Assess student participation in discussions and willingness to engage creatively in activities.

Extension Activity

As homework, invite students to create a short drama skit at home with their family, interpreting a favourite storybook using no words. They can draw or write about the experience and share it in the next class. This will help enhance their understanding of non-verbal communication in drama.

---

This lesson plan engages students with Australia's educational standards, encouraging them to explore creativity, expression, and storytelling through drama. Its interactive approach helps deepen their understanding of drama as a communicative art form.