The pedagogy for the eighth grade town meeting production appears below in lesson plan format.
LESSON PLAN
TOPIC:
An Eighth Grade Meeting on Long Island Sound
OBJECTIVES:
Students will utilize the research, writing and dramatic work that they have covered thus far (in Science, Reading Enrichment, Study Skills and Theater classes) with respect to oceanography and Long Island Sound in order to present the fruits of their labors in an all-day event featuring various presentations, skits, a life-size diorama, and an exhibition of student graphics.
INTRODUCTION (and Method):
The goals and objectives of this curriculum unit will be reiterated to students, with particular emphasis on the upcoming town meeting. By this point in the unit, students will be well on their way into researching topics (in their Science, Reading and Study Skills classes) for presentation in the culminating activity of the town meeting. We will review the work they have done thus far in these classes, as well as the work we have done in Theater class.
Students will receive the
Presentation Schedule & Production Objectives
handout (below), which shows the presentations that will be offered in our town meeting; length of each presentation; technical requirements; and individuals who will need to be scheduled for rehearsal. (An outline of the town meeting also appears in the introduction to “The Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School Team.”) Students will be invited to offer comments and suggestions for improvement with regard to the schedule and these will be incorporated into the overall plan. In these next six to eight classes, students will be involved in every aspect of the town meeting production. The roles and responsibilities of technical production will be determined and rehearsal schedules will be set.
