Title - Aristotle's Six Elements of a Play
By - Melissa Schack
Primary Subject - Language Arts
Secondary Subjects - Other
Grade Level - Grade level: 5
Activity Time: 1-2 class periods @ 30-40 minutes
Introduction to Theater
Grade 5
20 Students
Aristotle's Six Elements of A Play
Instruction Time: 1 class period:
30-40 minutes
ANTICIPATORY SET:
-This is one lesson on Aristotle's six elements of a play. The lesson introduces plot, character, thought (theme), diction, music, and spectacle. The six elements are introduced through Aesop's fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper." The Ant and the Grasshopper was chosen because the class is learning about insects in their science class. The students will watch three teachers perform the play through improvisation. After the play, the students will be asked to identify the six elements and to use their critical thinking skills by answering questions. The students will be asked to participate in the play, at the end of the lesson, by acting like busy ants.
*Note that the play is not to be read word for word, but is to be made into the presenters own variation.*
LEARNER OBJECTIVES:
After viewing the play "The Ant and the Grasshopper," and a teacher/class discussion, the students will be able to define Aristotle's six elements of a play, with 100% accuracy.
The students will be able to:
1. Identify the six elements of a play based on the "The Ant and the Grasshopper."
2. Give a definition of what each of the six elements mean.
3. Think critically and logically.
4. Participate in the play as busy ants.
5. In another lesson, the following day, participate in the student version of "The Ant and the Grasshopper."
LESSON BODY:
INTRODUCTION:
The teacher will introduce who Aristotle is and his six elements of a play. He/she will choose Aesop's fable The Ant and the Grasshopper," to relate it to the classes science lesson on insects. He/she will introduce the teachers putting on the play. Finally, he/she will ask the students to enjoy the play and to be prepared to answer questions following the play.
ARISTOTLE'S SIX ELEMENTS OF A PLAY:
1. Character
~ Character is the people, animals, and objects that are in the play.
~ The character can be either a protagonist or an antagonist.
Questions for character:
1. Who are the characters of the play?
2. What were the goals of the ant/grasshopper?
3. How did the grasshopper feel when he had no food for the winter?
2. Plot
~ Plot is the main events that take place in the story or play.
Questions for plot:
1. What happened to the grasshopper when he did not work?
2. Why did the ant work so hard to get food?
3. Why did the grasshopper not work hard?
3. Thought (Theme)
~ Thought is the main lesson to be learned from the play.
Questions for Thought:
1. What lessons did you learn from The Ant and the Grasshopper?
2. Had anything like this ever happened to you? When and what?
*The theme is, it is best to prepare for the days of need.*
4. Music
~ In Aesop's The Ant and the Grasshopper, the music is an expression how the ant and the grasshopper communicated, with each other. It can also be the sounds that you hear when you take a walk in the woods.
Questions for Music:
1. What tone of voice did the grasshopper have?
2. What tone of voice did the ant have?
3. What sounds do you hear when you take a walk outside?
4. Do you think that the ant and the grasshopper could have heard any of these sounds?
5. Spectacle
~ Spectacle is the props, costumes, make-up, lighting, and sets that are used in the play.
Questions for spectacle:
1. What did you notice about the character?
2. What could have been added to the play to give it more spectacle?
6. Diction
~ What the ant and the grasshopper said to each other, in the play, is the dialogue.
Question for Dialogue:
1. Was it the ant or the grasshopper that worked too hard?
*You learned that by listening to the dialogue of the play.*
CLOSURE:
~ The students have just learned about Aristotle's six elements of a play, by watching, Aesop's fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper." It is important to review each element by student participation in giving a definition. To get the students involved in the play, they will be asked to join the three teachers, on stage, to act as busy ants. Their goal is to gather up food for the winter.
~ To praise the students for their active participation, they will be rewarded with ants (raisins) and grasshoppers (cookies).
Given there are no food allergies in the class, if so, there will be substitutes on hand.
RESOURCES AND MATERIALS:
~ Book -Fifty Fabulous Fables, Beginning Readers Theater
~ Copyright 1997 by, Suzanne I. Barchers
~ Pipe Cleaners for antennas on the ant and the grasshopper
~ Canned and boxed food for the ant to collect
~ Plastic bin for the ant to put his food in
~ A book of the students' choice to read as the grasshopper
~ Grasshopper Cookies
~ Raisins
STUDENT ASSESSMENT:
~ The students' understanding of the six elements will be informally assessed through large group participation in a class discussion. Teacher observation of individual participation in class discussion also can be evaluated.
~ The student's understanding will also be assessed by participating in a student version of the play, the next day.
~ After several days of reviewing these six elements, there will be a small test on the definitions and questions to think critically about the elements pertaining to the play.
Math
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Art
Computers & Internet
Music
P.E. & Health
Other
Multi-Disciplinary
Printable Version
