I presently work with middle school students, primarily sixth and seventh graders. The class consists of self-contained special education students who are labeled either SEM (socially and emotionally maladjusted) or LD (learning disabled). These students exhibit difficulty incorporating interpersonal skills in daily activities. In addition, many of these students have problems processing information due to learning disabilities.
In this curriculum unit, dramatic presentation and evaluation of multicultural theater will be integrated and incorporated through the several academic areas. This will enable students to develop an interest in learning about other cultures while improving in the areas of expressive language, receptive language, and reading proficiency.
The major themes of the curriculum unit will focus on the understanding of the family, identity, and socialization. Students will have the opportunity to participate in dramatic readings, play examinations, and presentations as a positive examination of three plays that reveal a glimpse into different cultures: “The Oxcart” by Rene Marques, “And the Soul Shall Dance” by Wakako Yamauchi, and “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry. Through the study of these plays, students will have the opportunity to generate discussions relevant to the major themes of this unit.
My goals and objectives of this unit will be:
Academic Goals:
I. Students will improve in their reading skills:
Objectives:
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1. Students will identify new vocabulary words from the reading selections.
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2. Students will develop improved oral reading skills.
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3. Students will develop improved reading comprehension.
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4. Students will increase their ability to understand character’s point of view.
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5. Students will increase their ability to use contextual clues in decoding semantic meaning within the text.
Social Goals:
II. Students will become more self aware through dramatic activities.
Objectives:
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1. Students will be better able to express themselves orally and in writing.
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2. Students will be better able to express themselves physically and spatially in relation to others.
III. Students will improve their interpersonal skills through dramatic activities.
Objectives:
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1. Students will work together cooperatively in reading selections from the plays.
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2. Students will work together as a cooperative group to act out scenes from a play.
Cognitive Goals:
IV. Students will identify thematic ideas from the plays:
Objectives:
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1. Students will identify and discuss the term culture.
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2. Students will identify different cultures and cultural values.
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3. Students will discuss the formation of the family.
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4. Students will discuss the idea of identity.
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5. Students will discuss the role of gender in relation to family and society.
