Topic title: Darkwood Manor
Year group: 7
When taught: January -March/April
What are we learning?
This term students will explore the spooky house ‘Darkwood Manor’ and develop various roles surrounding this mysterious house, from police investigators to estate agents. Students will be building on the skills developed through the Charlie scheme of work to explore soundscapes, dramatic techniques and physical theatre.
Why is this important to know?
Students will develop confidence with creating work and developing their own ideas around the story of Darkwood Manor, students will have more ownership over the work and will begin to understand the devising of theatre and performance. Students will also participate in teacher in role activities which will develop skills in spontaneous tasks.
Where does this link into our past and future learning?
Students will develop skills in spontaneous role-play which links to the work explored in Year 8. The work will also require students to use techniques such as narration, thought tracking and freeze frame which they have explored in the Charlie scheme of work so students can see progression and understand and develop the techniques more.
How will we be assessed on this topic?
Students will be assessed practically at the end of the scheme of work focusing on the skills and confidence developed using a section of the script as a starting point. The 3 elements of the assessment:
- Group work- co-operation and participation.
- Character development – use of voice, movement
- Use of techniques – narration, thought tracking, freeze frames.
What makes a strong piece of work in this topic? What are teachers hoping to see?
Students will be expected to perform in front of the class and demonstrate their understanding of the scheme of work creating tension and atmosphere in the final performance.
What key words are there in this topic?
- Tension
- Atmosphere
- Devising
- Physical theatre
- Teacher in role
- Freeze frames
- Thought tracking
- Voice, movement and gestures
What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?
- Find a piece of music to support the tension and atmosphere of the spooky house – use this in your final assessment.
- Nominate yourself to be a director for a group, to support your ideas and to have a focus for the work.
What wider reading can be done on this topic?
- Read any spooky stories or Gothic Horror to understand the build-up of tension and how to create atmosphere.
Supporting document/links:
- Watch a Goosebumps film – how do they use music to create tension and atmosphere.
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