Subject: Language Arts Grade: Two

Standard: #7 Speaking and Listening

Key concept: Creative drama based on stories helps students understand the elements of the story better.

Generalization: In planning a play adapted from the story "Ronald Morgan Goes To Bat" by Patricia Reilly Giff (Treasury of Literature, book 2, Harcourt Brace and Company), students gain insight into sequence of events in a story.

Background: Students have read and discussed the story, "Ronald Morgan Goes to Bat."

They have suggested a sequence of events which the teacher has written in a script form. They have suggested dialogue for the play. Now they will begin to work on the play. Students are divided into two tiers.

This lesson is tiered in product according to interest.

Tier I: Actors

These students will each take a part in the play. They will volunteer for the part. It is important to create enough parts for all students interested or have two productions of the play. They will learn the lines and will practice acting out the play for an audience. The teacher (or interested parent volunteer) will direct the play. Inviting another second grade to view the play would be fun to do! Also, putting on the play for parents would be fun.

Tier II: Set Designers/Prop Crew

This group will do the "behind the scenes work." They will draw a backdrop for the play by deciding what the story provides for set information. These students will also decide what props are necessary and will gather props.

Assessment: This is a collaborative activity. The successful production and performance of the play is the ultimate assessment. Each student needs to be responsible for some aspect--a prop, a part in the play, a portion of the backdrop design. The focus of the lesson is "success depends on everyone's help!" As suggested previously, inviting a class in to view the performance, or inviting parents to view it, would be an excellent goal.

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2LI: FAD