Once Upon a Time

Year Level

Year 2

Duration

60 minutes

Unit

Fairytale Drama Adventures
Lesson 1 of 5

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Lesson Description

Students will explore what makes a fairytale by identifying key elements such as characters, settings, and plots. Through an engaging interactive storytelling session of a classic fairytale, students will discuss its components and begin to use their imagination to create their own storytelling ideas.

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Australian Curriculum Links

Learning Area: The Arts > Drama

Strand: Creating and Making

• Content Description AC9ADR2D01: Use the elements of drama and imagination in dramatic play and/or process drama.
• Content Description AC9ADR2P01: Share their drama in informal settings.

Key Elements Covered:

• Role
• Place
• Situation
• Language
• Movement

Relevant Achievement Standard Statements:

• Participate in dramatic play and improvisations to explore characters and situations.
• Use imagination to create roles and settings.
• Use drama terminology appropriately in discussion.
• Share drama with peers and respond positively to others.

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Learning Objectives

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

1. Identify key elements of a fairytale — characters, settings, and plots.
2. Demonstrate understanding of storytelling by retelling a classic fairytale through dramatic play.
3. Discuss and use drama vocabulary such as role, setting, and plot.
4. Use imagination to begin forming ideas for their own fairytale drama.
5. Collaborate with peers in sharing and discussing ideas.

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Resources Needed

• A classic fairytale book or printed story (e.g., "The Three Little Pigs")
• Open space suitable for drama activities
• Simple props or dress-up items (optional)
• Whiteboard or chart paper and markers
• Drama vocabulary cards: role, setting, plot, character, story

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Lesson Activities

1. Warm-Up and Introduction (10 minutes)

• Gather the students in a circle.
• Begin with a brief discussion: "What is a fairytale?"
  • Elicit prior knowledge: can they name any fairytale characters or stories?
  • Introduce the key drama elements — role (character), setting (place), and plot (what happens).
• Use drama vocabulary cards to visually introduce these terms.

2. Listening and Viewing – Fairytale Storytelling (15 minutes)

• Read aloud a classic fairytale story with expressive voice and movements.
  • Encourage students to listen carefully for characters, setting, and the sequence of events.
• Use images or simple illustrations to support understanding.
• Pause at key points to ask questions like:
  • "Who is this character?"
  • "Where does this story take place?"
  • "What do you think will happen next?"

3. Drama Exploration and Role-Play (20 minutes)

• Divide students into small groups (2-3).
• Assign each group a part of the story or a character/setting to dramatise briefly.
• Provide simple props or encourage them to use imagination to represent roles and settings.
• Allow time for groups to prepare a short role-play about their assigned element.
• Groups present to the class, focusing on expressing the character, place, or situation.

4. Reflection and Discussion (10 minutes)

• Guide a whole-class discussion:
  • What did you notice about the characters and settings?
  • How did your group show the story using drama?
  • What words did we use to talk about drama?
• Revisit the drama vocabulary cards.
• Ask students what kind of fairytales they might like to create in future lessons.

5. Wrap-Up and Linking to Future Lessons (5 minutes)

• Recap key learning: fairytales have characters, settings, and plots that we can act out.
• Explain that next lessons will build on what they learned today by creating their own fairytale adventures using drama.
• Invite students to think about a favourite character or place they might want to explore.

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Assessment and Reporting

• Formative Assessment: Observe student participation during role-play and group sharing. Look for:
  • Ability to identify and discuss story elements (characters, settings, plot).
  • Use of drama terminology in discussions.
  • Creativity and cooperation in dramatic play.
• Informal Check: Use open questions during reflection to assess understanding.
• Documentation: Teacher notes or photographs (with permissions) of group presentations to track progress.

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Differentiation

• Support students who need it by providing role cards with pictures and simple descriptions.
• Extend learning for advanced students by inviting them to add dialogue or sound effects during role-play.
• Pair students strategically to encourage peer support and confidence building.

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Curriculum References

• AC9ADR2D01: Use the elements of drama and imagination in dramatic play and/or process drama — Students engage with familiar props and create roles and situations from texts to explore ideas and feelings.
• AC9ADR2P01: Share their drama in informal settings — Retell familiar stories through acting, frozen images and reflecting on their response to drama【6:AC9ADR2D01.md】【14:AC9ADR2P01.md】.

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This lesson plan offers a rich, engaging start to the "Fairytale Drama Adventures" unit, combining listening, discussion, and imaginative role-play that is developmentally appropriate for Year 2 students. It supports the Australian Curriculum Drama guidelines and builds a foundation for creative storytelling in drama.