Character Building in Drama

Lesson Overview

• Duration: 60 minutes
• Group Size: 8 students
• Age Group: 14-16 years
• Unit Title: Drama Against Bullying
• Lesson Number: 4 of 8

Learning Objectives

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

1. Create detailed character profiles for a bully and a victim, including their motivations, backgrounds, and emotional states.
2. Develop dialogues that accurately reflect the dynamics of bullying situations.
3. Collaborate effectively in pairs to explore character interactions and convey complex emotions.

Curriculum Links

• Drama Curriculum: Aims for students to explore and develop realistic characters through scriptwriting and performance.
• English Curriculum: Focus on language, character analysis, and the exploration of themes like bullying.
• Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education: Understanding bullying and its impacts on mental health.

Resources Needed

• Character profile templates
• A4 papers, pens, and pencils
• Whiteboard and markers
• Props (optional, e.g., hats, scarves) for character representation
• Audio recording device (optional for capturing dialogues)

Lesson Structure

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Warm-up Activity:

   • Engage students in a quick improvisation game.
   • Have them form a circle and pass an emotion around by using facial expressions and body language.
   • Discuss how emotions can influence character development.

2. Objective Overview:

   • Briefly explain the lesson’s focus on character development in the context of bullying.
   • Emphasise the importance of understanding both the bully's and victim's perspectives.

Main Activity (35 minutes)

1. Character Profile Creation (15 minutes):

   • Pair Work: Students will pair up. One will play the role of the bully, the other the victim.
   • Template Use: Distribute character profile templates that include sections for:
     • Name
     • Age
     • Background/History
     • Motivations for their behaviours
     • Emotional state (e.g., anger, fear, sadness)
   • Guided Questions: Provide prompts for deeper exploration, such as:
     • What might have happened in their early life that shaped them?
     • How do they feel about their actions or situation?

2. Dialogue Development (20 minutes):

   • Dialogue Creation: Each pair will create a dialogue that showcases a bullying encounter.
   • Focus on Emotion: Encourage students to infuse their characters' emotions into the dialogue—how does the bully assert power, and how does the victim respond?
   • Peer Feedback: After writing, students can exchange dialogues with another pair for constructive feedback.

Class Sharing (10 minutes)

• Performance of Dialogues:
  • Each pair will perform their created dialogues in front of the class.
  • Encourage the use of voice modulation and body language to enhance character portrayal.
• Reflection and Discussion:
  • After each pair’s performance, facilitate a discussion around:
    • The portrayal of emotions
    • How audience perception can shift based on performance choices

Conclusion (5 minutes)

• Wrap-Up Discussion:
  • What did they learn about the complexities of both characters?
  • Highlight the importance of empathy in understanding bullying.
• Homework Assignment:
  • Ask students to reflect in a journal about a time they witnessed or experienced bullying, considering both perspectives.

Assessment

• Formative Assessment:
  • Monitor participation during the warm-up and discussions.
  • Evaluate the depth and realism of character profiles.
  • Assess dialogues for emotional authenticity and character consistency during performances.

Additional Notes

• Differentiation:
  • Provide additional support or alternative character profiles for students who may struggle with creating detailed backgrounds.
  • Encourage higher ability students to explore more complex emotional layers within their characters.

This lesson plan aims to foster empathy and understanding through character development, making the theme of bullying relatable and grounding learning in real-life experiences.