Year 7 Drama Lesson Plan: Incorporating Satire and Parody in Comedy

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

25 students

Objective

Students will understand the basic concepts of satire and parody in comedy, and apply these techniques in a practical task.

Curriculum Area

Australian Curriculum: The Arts - Drama (Years 7-8)

Links to Curriculum

• Australian Curriculum: The Arts - Drama

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, Year 7 students will explore satire and parody as key elements in comedic performance. Through practical activities, students will develop skills in identifying and creating satire and parody, which they can apply to their upcoming comedy assessment.

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Lesson Plan

Introduction (10 minutes)

Welcome and Roll Call (2 minutes)

• Greet students and take attendance.

Introduction to Satire and Parody (8 minutes)

• Discussion: Begin with a brief discussion on what students know about comedy.
• Define Satire and Parody:
  • Satire: A form of comedy that uses humour, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or expose the flaws in society, individuals, or institutions.
  • Parody: An imitation of a particular style, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.
• Examples: Show short clips or excerpts from Australian comedy shows or skits (e.g., Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell, Kath & Kim) that highlight satire and parody.

Main Activity (40 minutes)

Warm-Up Exercise (10 minutes)

• Improvisation Game: "Exaggerated Characters"
  • Students pair up and are given a common scenario (e.g., buying groceries, waiting for a bus).
  • Each pair must exaggerate their characters’ behaviours and dialogue to create a comedic effect.
• Debrief: Discuss how exaggeration helped make the scenario funnier and relate this to parody.

Group Activity (20 minutes)

• Satire and Parody Skit Creation:
  • Divide students into small groups of 4-5.
  • Provide each group with a current event or social issue to satirize (e.g., social media trends, school rules).
  • Each group creates a short skit (2-3 minutes) that incorporates elements of satire and parody.
  • Encourage students to use props available in the classroom and be creative with their interpretations.

Group Presentations (10 minutes)

• Each group presents their skit to the class.
• After each skit, have a brief discussion on the elements of satire and parody used.

Conclusion (10 minutes)

Reflection and Discussion (5 minutes)

• Question Prompts:
  • What were some challenges you faced in creating satire or parody?
  • How did using satire and parody change the way you approached the topic?
  • How can you apply these techniques in your upcoming comedy assessment?

Homework Assignment (5 minutes)

• Task: Write a short paragraph on how you plan to incorporate satire or parody into your comedy assessment. What issue or topic will you focus on? How will you exaggerate or criticize it?

Assessment

• Formative Assessment: Participation in the warm-up exercise, group activity, and class discussions.
• Summative Assessment: Performance of the skit and the written paragraph on incorporating satire/parody in their comedy assessment.

Resources

• Short comedy clips (e.g., from Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell or Kath & Kim)
• Props available in the classroom
• Whiteboard and markers for brainstorming sessions

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Notes for Teachers

• Ensure clips and examples used are appropriate for Year 7 students in terms of content and humour.
• Encourage all students to participate and support each other during activities, especially those who may feel less confident in performing.
• Use classroom dynamics to your advantage by mixing up groups to foster new interactions and collaborative skills.

By the end of the lesson, students will have a clearer understanding of satire and parody and feel more prepared to apply these techniques in their comedic performances.

For more detailed information and resources, you can visit the Australian Curriculum: The Arts - Drama section.