Drama 10, 20, 30 - Model Unit

Model Unit

The following model unit has been written to provide teachers with a guide to one of the ways in which a unit of study could be structured for secondary level Drama students.

The development of this model unit was guided by the process described by Berry and Rinebold in Collective Creation: A Teacher's Guide which is listed in the References section of this guide. Units can, of course, be structured around any of the drama experiences described in this document.

The collective creation process can be undertaken in Drama 10, Drama 20, or Drama 30. Depending on the interests and experiences of the students and the teacher, the group may decide to develop a collective creation of few or many episodes and may or may not choose to develop these episodes into a formal presentation. The value of the collective creation experience lies in the entire process, the culmination of which might be a performance.

This model unit, presented in a "case study" format, describes the work of one particular Drama 20 class and is not meant to be used as a script. Each group will bring its own experiences, knowledge and insights to the collective creation process. The teacher's role is to guide the students through the process by structuring their ideas in such a way as to ensure that meaningful learning occurs and that the students progress toward achieving the foundational objectives of the program.

The model unit includes:

a statement of "Background Information" that provides a profile of this particular grade eleven drama class and briefly describes where the idea for their work came from
a "Procedures" column that details what the class experienced as they developed their collective creation; as well as learning objectives for every episode of the work
a "Teacher Notes" column, on the right-hand side of each page, that provides links between the model unit and the collective creation process; as well as general teacher tips.

Background Information

Teacher Notes

The students and teacher in this grade eleven drama class have been working together for a semester and a half. The students have had a variety of contextual drama experiences in elementary and middle years. In grades nine and ten they worked together in small groups to develop short collective creations that they have presented to each other in class.

The students have expressed a desire to involve the entire class in developing a longer collective to present to a larger audience. The teacher reminds them that the guidance counsellor has initiated a program in the school to promote healthy living. She asks the students if they would be willing to develop a collective creation that would contribute to this program. The students agree to explore the possibility.

It is important that a safe, secure environment has been established in the class and that the students feel safe to contribute willingly and openly to all aspects of the collective creation process. To that end, the objectives listed under "Orientation" in the Course Description section would be achieved prior to beginning work on this collective creation.