Greek Drama Unit (No Prep) for Middle and High School

"Why do we have to study ancient history, it's so boring," was something that I heard quite often from students. That's why I came up with my hands on approach to ancient history, my main goal was to make it come alive so that the kids would learn something and perhaps remember it in the years to come.

My students loved this unit on Greek Drama because it was hands on, and so did their parents. We invited them to the class to see the final performances. What good PR, the parents raved about it. The plays were also performed for other classes at the school.

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Amount of Time to Complete the Unit:

• Introduction 1 period
• Writing the plays 2-3 class periods
• Rehearsal and dress rehearsal 2-3 periods
• Performances 2-3 periods
• The amount of time needed depends on your classes.

Objectives:

• Students will understand that theater played an important part in the lives of ancient Greeks.
• Students will learn Athens, Greece was the first civilization to introduce drama and to build theaters.
• Present day theater came about from this civilization.
• Students will learn that the first play was to honor the God Dionysus.
• Students will identify characteristics of Greek Drama.
• Students will write and present plays in the Greek style.

  Purpose:

•  In a cooperative group activity, student will write and perform plays in the Greek style.
• They will each construct a mask with features to depict the character or situation being portrayed.
• Masks will be made at home, or in class. This is up to the teacher.
• A final copy of their group’s typewritten play will be handed in to the teacher.

  Materials:

• Paper, pencil, pen
• For the mask, oak tag, colored pencils, crayons, paint, yarn, glue, scissors.
• The teacher may ask the class to bring in materials. Most parents are so helpful with this.

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What's Inside

Objectives, Time to Complete the Project................................................4

Background Information for the Teacher................................................5-6

Lesson Plan that Includes an Introduction and Group Roles...........7-8

Grading Rubrics for History and English.................................................9-11

Student Handouts (to be read and discussed in class).......................12-13

Student Worksheets (vocabulary & pages for notes)..........................14-19

Bibliography of Resources………………………………………………………………20

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I have also created a PowerPoint presentation that goes quite well with this unit as an introduction to Greek Theater.

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