How transformation plays a part when creating a character

As the 2nd Grade finishes their partnering project "Make the Sound For Me", they are now focusing on the next Unit, City Life/Country Life. This Unit explores the many differences of living in a city as opposed to living in a more rural area, the similarities that can be found in the 2 locations and the multitud of reasons why people may choose to settle in either place. 

As this Unit examines the concepts of Change and Form, the Central Idea created especially in connection to Drama is: "To create a character, a performer must transform their body and voice to imagine they have become someone else."

The 2nd Grade classes were encouraged to consider the teachings of renowned Russian actor, teacher and author, Constantin Stanislavsky once again. Stanislavsky's philosophy behind his system of "Method Acting" is that the performer tap into real feelings that they have actually experienced during real-life situations by using their "emotion memory". The actor would reflect on how they felt during certain moments of their life, then apply the force of those emotions to the scene they are performing on-stage.

This began with a game of exploration called "Who Am I?" While facing the mirror in the classroom an emotion would be called out. The students had a moment to think of how their bodies and facial expressions could be affected by these emotions, then they would demonstrate this on the count of "1.....2......3!"

Surprise

Anger

Sadness

Happiness