Under the Sea Drama

Overview

Duration: 40 minutes
Class size: 25 students
Group size: 3 students per group (approximately 8 groups, with one group of 1 or 2)
Age group: Key Stage 2 (Years 3-4, ages 7-9)
Curriculum reference: Drama - National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2
Topic: Exploring "Under the Sea" through drama

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National Curriculum Links

Drama - Key Stage 2 (Years 3-4)

• Pupils should be taught to:

  • Use role-play, improvisation and drama to explore ideas and feelings
  • Take on different roles and situations in improvisation and scripted work
  • Plan, perform and review work
  • Understand and apply specific theatre techniques such as voice, movement, and gesture
  • Use drama to develop empathy and understanding of different perspectives and cultures

• Key competencies targeted:

  • Speaking and Listening: articulate ideas and respond to others
  • Creativity and Imagination: developing stories and characters
  • Collaboration and Communication: working effectively in groups

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, pupils will:

• LO1: Create and embody imaginative characters from an under the sea environment (NC drama: role-play and improvisation)
• LO2: Use voice, movement, and gesture to express their character and environment confidently (NC drama: theatre skills development)
• LO3: Collaborate successfully in small groups to plan and perform a short dramatic scene (NC drama: performance skills and teamwork)
• LO4: Reflect on their performance and provide constructive feedback to peers (NC: review and assess work)

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Resources Required

• Open classroom or hall space (enough for groups to work separately)
• Simple props representing under the sea items: shells, fishing nets, seaweed scarves, goggles, inflatable sea creatures (optional: costume bits like fish tails or sea hats)
• Whiteboard and marker for planning
• Timer or stopwatch
• Reflection sheets with simple sentence starters for peer feedback

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Detailed Lesson Plan

1. Engagement and Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Activity: Underwater Freeze!
  • Pupils move freely around the space mimicking sea creatures (e.g., jellyfish floating, crabs scuttling).
  • Teacher calls out ‘Freeze!’ and pupils hold their position like statues.
  • Quick discussion: What sea creatures did you become? How did you move or sound?

Purpose: Activate imagination, warm up the body and voice, introduce under the sea theme.

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2. Introduction - Setting the Scene (5 minutes)

• Teacher briefly sets a vivid scene: "Imagine you are under the sea, surrounded by colourful coral reefs, busy fish, strange creatures and mysterious shipwrecks."
• Show props briefly and ask open questions to stimulate ideas:
  • "What creatures might live here?"
  • "How do they move and sound?"
  • "What problems or adventures might happen under the sea?"

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3. Group Work: Creating Characters and Scenes (15 minutes)

• Group formation: Pupils split into groups of 3.
• Task: Each group creates a short 2-minute improvised scene set under the sea. They must:
  • Invent three imaginative sea creature characters (e.g., octopus, mermaid, sea turtle, or an invented species).
  • Decide a simple story or event, e.g., a lost treasure, a sea party, or a rescue mission.
  • Assign roles: leader (to plan), character 1, character 2, character 3.
  • Use voice, movement, and props to bring their scene to life.

Teacher support: Circulate, ask guiding questions, encourage use of expressive body language and vocal variety.

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4. Performances (10 minutes)

• Each group performs their scene to the rest of the class (approx. 1.5 minutes per group).
• Audience practises attentive listening.

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5. Reflection and Feedback (5 minutes)

• After each performance, the teacher guides the class in giving positive and specific feedback using sentence starters:
  • "I liked how you used your voice to..."
  • "Your movement helped me imagine..."
  • "Next time, maybe try to..."
• Pupils complete a very brief self and peer assessment on reflection sheets about what they enjoyed and what they learned.

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Assessment

• Formative: Observation during warm-up, group planning and performances to assess engagement with drama techniques, teamwork, and creativity.
• Peer & Self Assessment: Use reflection sheets to check understanding and ability to evaluate work constructively.

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Extension Ideas

• Create a simple underwater soundtrack as a class (waves, bubbles, whale sounds) to perform with next time.
• Develop completed scenes into a longer class performance or assembly.
• Integrate cross-curricular links: write a short story or poem based on their sea creatures and act it out.

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Differentiation

• Support pupils who find improvisation challenging by suggesting simple sentence starters for their lines.
• Encourage more confident pupils to use more complex language and physicality.
• Allow groups to work at their own pace and provide extra props for sensory engagement if needed.

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This lesson plan aims to stimulate creativity, empathy, and imagination while developing foundational drama skills neatly aligned with the National Curriculum. It offers an immersive experience in the captivating world "under the sea" and fosters confident, collaborative learners.