Year 7 Drama Lesson Plan on Comedy

Lesson Information

Year Level: Year 7
Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 25 students
Subject: Drama
Unit: Comedy

Curriculum Context

Curriculum Area: The Arts - Drama
Band: Years 7 and 8
Relevant Link: Australian Curriculum: Drama

Lesson Objectives

1. Understand comedic elements: Students will explore different types of comedy including physical, verbal, and situational comedy.
2. Develop performance skills: Students will enhance their skills in delivering comedic performances through improvisation exercises.
3. Collaborative Creation: Students will work in groups to create a short comedic skit that will contribute to their summative performance assessment.

Materials and Resources

• Open space for activities (classroom or drama room)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Props for improvisation (hats, scarves, simple costumes)
• Notebooks and pens for students

Lesson Structure

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Welcome and Roll Call - Greet students and mark attendance.

2. Introduction to Comedy - Discuss the following types of comedy with students:

   • Physical Comedy: Emphasises the use of body movements and facial expressions (e.g., slapstick).
   • Verbal Comedy: Focuses on language and wordplay (e.g., puns, jokes).
   • Situational Comedy: Revolves around scenarios and humorous situations (e.g., sitcoms).

   Link to Curriculum Standard: This session address the curriculum goal of exploring and interpreting personal, cultural, and social worlds through role and situation (source).

Warm-Up Activity (10 minutes)

Activity: "Silly Walks"

• Students form a circle.
• Each student crosses the circle using a unique, exaggerated walk in a comedic style.
• The rest of the class tries to imitate the walk.

This activity warms up the students' physicality and encourages them to use their bodies creatively.

Main Activity: Improvisation Exercises (20 minutes)

1. Split the class into five groups of five students.

2. Explain the Rules of Improvisation:

   • Accept and build on offers (Yes, and…)
   • Make bold choices
   • Focus on creating comedic scenarios

3. Improvisation Prompt:

   • Each group receives a different comedic scenario (e.g., a dentist visit gone wrong, a cooking show disaster).
   • Groups prepare a 2-minute improvised skit based on their scenario.
   • Encourage the use of props and physical comedy.

Group Performances and Feedback (15 minutes)

Activity:

• Each group performs their improvisation for the class.
• After each performance, provide constructive feedback focusing on:
  • Use of comedic elements
  • Clarity of performance
  • Group collaboration

Reflection and Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

1. Class Discussion:

   • What did you find challenging about creating and performing comedy?
   • What elements of comedy did you enjoy the most?
   • How can you use these skills in other performances and subjects?

2. Assignment:

   • Each group should start brainstorming ideas for their summative performance assessment, a short comedic skit to be performed at the end of the unit.

Additional Information

• For more guidance on planning and implementing Drama lessons, visit the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).

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By aligning this lesson with the Australian Curriculum's aims and structure, the plan ensures that students develop the confidence and skills necessary to explore and depict human experiences through comedy in Drama.