Years 7 & 8 Curriculum - Drama

In Year 7 and 8 students will learn to develop practical skills in Devising and Script work for 1 hour a week. To support this they will learn about the styles of performing, drama techniques and how to best develop their acting skills, both vocal and physical. They will explore how to learn lines, how to create believable characters and how do develop their skills to achieve their desired atmosphere from an audience. Students will develop their analytical and evaluation skills through increasing their knowledge and understanding of vivid description in vocal and written feedback following performances.

The units of work that are studied in year 7 and 8 are based on the following themes:

• Mime and Silent Movie
• Pantomime
• Greek Theatre
• Professional Modern Theatre
• The Godmother (1920’s gangsters)
• Murder Mystery
• Warhorse
• Car Crash
• Comedy
• Oliver Twist

Each unit of work builds upon previous knowledge and introduces new skills so that their progress is cumulative over time. Where appropriate, students will be encouraged to use think about additional elements of dramatic performance including props, lighting, sound and costume to help to create a more ‘realistic’ and believable piece of drama.

During lessons we make continuous use of verbal feedback to support student progress and help them to identify the way forward. Students also undertake written activities and highlight their current strengths of the work and how they can develop.

Students are assessed on the work from each unit performance. They are marked against six drama strands throughout the year – vocal skills, physical skills, drama techniques, audience awareness, characterisation and interpretation.