Introduction to Love

Year Level

Year 7 Drama

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

25 students

---

Unit Title

Exploring Love Through Drama

Lesson 1 of 16 Title

Introduction to Drama and Love

---

WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Understand the core elements of drama and how they relate to the theme of love.

Success Criteria

• Students can define core elements of drama including role, audience, situation, and tension.
• Students discuss and express their ideas about different concepts of love.
• Students participate actively in group discussions demonstrating understanding.
• Students use visual aids to support comprehension.

---

Curriculum Links

Australian Curriculum v9 – The Arts: Drama Year 7 & 8 level relevant content descriptions:

• AC9ADR8D02: Reflect on their own and others’ drama to inform choices when manipulating elements of drama to shape dramatic action.
• AC9ADR8C01: Improvise and devise drama and/or interpret scripted drama, manipulating elements of drama relevant to style/form.
• Elements of Drama: role, character, situation, relationship, place, time, language, movement, symbol, tension, mood.
• Develop and express understanding of human behaviour and emotions in dramatic contexts.

These align with the content description for Year 7 Drama to reflect on and manipulate elements of drama and understand performance skills in dramatic action relevant to themes such as love.

---

Differentiation Strategies

• Use of clear, dyslexia-friendly written definitions and visual aids (e.g., diagrams, iconography) of drama elements.
• Small group discussions to allow multiple modes of participation.
• Sentence starters and discussion prompts to support varied ability levels.
• Allow visual and verbal expression of ideas about the theme of love.
• Encourage peer support and modelling during improvisations.

---

Materials Needed

• Visual aids: posters/handouts illustrating drama elements.
• Whiteboard and markers.
• Space for safe movement and group work.
• Scenario cards depicting different types of love relationships (family, friendship, romantic, self-love).
• Dyslexia-friendly printed glossary of drama vocabulary.

---

Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction and Warm-up (10 minutes)

• Welcome and overview of unit theme: "Exploring Love Through Drama."
• Briefly explain the lesson's WALT and Success Criteria.
• Icebreaker: Quick verbal sharing in pairs — "What does love mean to you?"
• Physical and vocal warm-up exercises to prepare for drama activities.

2. Presentation of Drama Elements (10 minutes)

• Introduce core drama elements (role, audience, situation, tension, relationship, language, movement, symbol).
• Use large visual posters and explain each element with examples.
• Show specific focus on how these elements can express or explore love.

3. Group Discussion: Concepts of Love (10 minutes)

• Divide students into 5 groups of 5.
• Provide each group a scenario card exemplifying different types of love (e.g., friendship, family, romantic, self-love, community love).
• Groups discuss the scenario and identify how love is portrayed.
• Prompt questions:
• What kind of love is this?
• How can drama elements help show this love on stage?
• How might characters express this love through voice or movement?

4. Drama Activity: Improvising Love (20 minutes)

• Groups create a short improvised scene using their scenario card, focusing on drama elements introduced.
• Encourage use of role, relationship, and tension.
• Allow rehearsal time (10 min), then each group performs a 2-minute improvisation.

5. Reflection and Wrap-up (10 minutes)

• After each performance, class gives positive feedback using drama element vocabulary.
• Whole class discussion: How did the elements of drama help communicate love?
• Recap the WALT and confirm success criteria met.
• Explain how upcoming lessons will build on understanding love through drama.

---

Assessment

• Informal observation of participation in group discussions and dramatizations.
• Use of drama vocabulary during discussion to assess understanding.
• Evaluation of improvised scene for demonstration of drama elements and engagement with the theme of love.

---

Additional Notes for Teacher

• Encourage a supportive, fun environment befitting varied student abilities.
• Use playful tone and encourage students to share personal thoughts safely.
• Adjust pacing if necessary to ensure understanding of core elements before improvisation.

---

This lesson plan reflects the Australian Curriculum (v9) Drama standards for Year 7, targeting elements of drama understanding, improvisation skills, and thematic exploration of love, wrapped in interactive discussions and group collaboration that Year 7 students thrive on.