Course Standards
General Course Information and Notes
Version Description
Fourth-grade* theatre students strengthen their knowledge of theatre skills and concepts through imagination, creative dramatics, and writing their own monologues and short scenes. Also new to theatre at this level are basic stage techniques, ensemble techniques, and the early development of directorial skills through the collaborative process. High-quality children's literature continues to provide a strong foundation for development of students' theatrical, literacy, and life skills as students are more formally introduced to production (e.g., lighting, sound, stage management, costuming) and management (e.g., box office, publicity, audience engineering) areas of the physical theater. Improvisational exercises are used to create a sense of harmony and teamwork in the classroom and use of detailed pantomime is accelerated. Students also begin to support characterization through research, rather than imagination alone. The basic elements of acting technique are strengthened through the use of theatre exercises, light scene work, and new theatre vocabulary. The students explore theatre connections to geography, history, and a variety of cultures, particularly as they study, explore, and re-enact historical scenes from Florida history. As students play, move, and create together, they continue to develop important skills such as teamwork, acceptance, respect, critical thinking, and responsibility that will help students be successful in the 21st century.
General Notes
All instruction related to Theatre benchmarks should be framed by the Big Ideas and Enduring Understandings. Non-Theatre benchmarks listed in this course are also required and should be fully integrated in support of arts instruction.
* Intermediate Theatre 1, 2, and 3 have been designed in two ways: 1) to challenge students on grade level who have previously taken classes in this content area; and 2) to challenge students whose education in this content area has been delayed until the intermediate elementary grades. Theatre teachers of classes in Grades 3, 4, and 5 should select the most appropriate course level in the series based on each group's prior experience, the benchmarks, and available instruction time. Once elementary students have entered the series, they must progress to the next course in sequence.
Examples:
- A 3rd grade class that may or may not have taken Theatre previously should be enrolled in Intermediate Elementary Theatre 1 and progress through the series in subsequent grades.
- 4th graders beginning formal instruction in Theatre for the first time may be enrolled, as a class, in Upper Elementary Theatre 1, and must then progress to Intermediate Elementary Theatre 2 in the following year.
Special Note: This class may include opportunities to participate in extra rehearsals and performances beyond the school day.
English Language Development ELD Standards Special Notes Section:
Teachers are required to provide listening, speaking, reading and writing instruction that allows English language learners (ELL) to communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting. For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support, students will interact with grade level words, expressions, sentences and discourse to process or produce language necessary for academic success. The ELD standard should specify a relevant content area concept or topic of study chosen by curriculum developers and teachers which maximizes an ELL’s need for communication and social skills. To access an ELL supporting document which delineates performance definitions and descriptors, please click on the following link: https://cpalmsmediaprod.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/docs/standards/eld/si.pdf