Summary Description of UnitStudents develop skills in drama, dance and critical literacy through an exploration of the topic of cyber bullying. The unit begins with an exploration of communication in a digital age, inviting students to investigate the differences between electronic communication and embodied communication. By the end of the unit, students will understand how electronic forms of communication can be used with intention to harm or with intention to have a positive and powerful impact. Students view several media texts through a critical literacy lens, and use these as drama texts providing the contexts and roles that they will use for analyzing the motivations and perspectives of the bullies, targets, bystanders and allies. Students compose dance phrases and write monolgues, bringing to life the interior monolgues and outer presentation of the characters they create. By "living through" the experiences of these characters, students develop empathy for others and deepen their critical understanding of issues of equity, and social justice. Read more about Critical Literacy and how it links to dance and drama. Note: The hyperlinks to Youtube videos frequently become outdated. Should you notice any hyperlinks which are not working, please report them using the Feedback button in the left menu. State the name of the resource and copy/paste the link into your email. State which section the link can be found in. Thanks so much! |
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Overall ExpectationsDrama:B1. Creating and Presenting: apply the creative process to process drama and the development of drama works, using the elements and conventions of drama to communicate feelings, ideas, and multiple perspectives B2. Reflecting, Responding, and Analysing: apply the critical analysis process to communicate feelings, ideas, and understandings in response to a variety of drama works and experiences Dance:A1. Creating and Presenting: apply the creative process to the composition of a variety of dance pieces, using the elements of dance to communicate feelings and ideas A2. Reflecting, Responding, and Analysing: apply the critical analysis process to communicate their feelings, ideas, and understandings in response to a variety of dance pieces and experiences LanguageOral Communication:
Writing:
Media Literacy:
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Big Idea and Guiding QuestionsCommunication in the digital age can be used with intention to harm or with intention to have a positive and powerful impact. Individuals and groups can be powerful agents of change, and can help stop cyber bullying. Through drama, dance, and critical literacy we can examine the power dynamics in relationships. Drama, dance and critical literacy can help us understand and empathisize with the taret, the bully, the bystander and the ally. Guiding Questions:
Critical LiteracyRead more about Critical Literacy and how it links to dance and drama. |
Assessment and Evaluation: How will students demonstrate their learning? |
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Assessment of Learning |
Students are evaluated through a two-part culminating task. Part One requires students to work in small groups, to compose works that that combine dance and performed monologues. For Part Two, students are asked to take action to make a difference. They demonstrate their learning by sharing their work beyond their own classroom, with the intention of being a positive agent for change. |
Assessment for and as Learning | Anecdotal observations, ongoing teacher and peer assessment, review of anchor charts, development and review of success criteria, student reflections and exit cards |
Unit Lessons: How will assessment and instruction be organized for learning? |
Approx. Duration 1 class = 50 minutes |
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Lesson 1 |
Introduction to Electronic CommunicationStudents begin by drawing on their prior learning about electronic communication. They critically examine a short video to see how texting is a prevalent social activity in teens' lives, which is at times misused. Through activities in which they decode texting symbols and body language, students draw parallels between electronic and "embodied" communication. They summarize their feelings and key ideas through a choral speaking drama structure. Assessment for Learning: Observation Tracking Sheet |
90 minutes |
Lesson 2 |
Introduction to Cyber BullyingStudents draw on their prior learning about bullying, examine different types of bullying, and extend their understanding of what cyber bullying is. Their theoretical comprehension is strengthened by a movement activity that explores the negotiation of power through body language. Finally, they critically examine an Emmy award winning documentary about cyber bullying, followed by a guided discussion to unpack the media text. Assessment for Learning: Observation Tracking Sheet |
95 minutes |
Lesson 3 |
Shifting Perspectives: Bullies, Bystanders/Allies & TargetsStudents consider the complex relationships between bullies, bystanders, allies and targets, as well as the factors that lead to such behaviours. They will view media texts: a PSA from Concerned Children's Advertisers (a Canadian organization), as well as a short video from "Childnet International", which be a source for character exploration in the coming lessons. Through a structured movement improvisation, and a hot-seating activity, students put their learning into action. Assessment for Learning: Appendix 4: Teacher Observation Tracking Sheet |
90 minutes |
Lesson 4 |
Digging Deeper: SubtextsStudents investigate the outer and inner voices of bullies, bystanders, allies and targets through the role on the wall, I am Poems and voices in the head drama conventions. They put their emerging comprehension of interior monologues to work by developing the first draft of a monologue "in role" as their selected character from the Childnet International Video. Assessment for Learning: Observation Tracking Sheet |
75 minutes |
Lesson 5 |
Bystanders Standby UPStudents begin by focusing on the role of the bystander to impact critical change in bullying situations. They view and anaylse an anti-cyber bullying PSA that targets bystanders, and highlights the tension between in-person and online bullying. Through prepared improvisations based on key relationships from the Childnet International Video, they expand their character comprehension, and return to their monologues from Lesson 4 for revision. Students practise sharing their monologues through speech and movement, in a choral improvisation structure. Assessment for Learning: Observation Tracking Sheet |
120 minutes
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Lesson 6 |
Critical Moves: Taking ControlStudents investigate the power dynamics present in bullying situations, as well as how these can be negotiated through body language and physicality. They create moving tableaux which examine the public and private body expressions of their characters, similar to the outer and inner voices discussed in the voices in the head activity. As they choreograph dance sequences, focus is given to how elements of dance such as relationships, space, energy, and time can be utilized to express power and agency in bullying situations. Assessment for Learning: Observation Tracking Sheet |
120 minutes |
Lesson 7 |
Put It Together! (Culminating Task Park One)Students consolidate their learning about cyber bullying by working in their small groups to integrate the moving tableaux and monologues into a cohesive dance and drama composition. They share their scenes with the rest of the class in order to give and receive peer feedback, and then delve back into the rehearsal process to strengthen their creations. This activity is an opportunity for the students to demonstrate their critical comprehension of cyber bullying via dance and drama from throughout the unit. Assessment for Learning: Observation Tracking Sheet |
115 minutes |
Lesson 8 |
A Web of Voices: Sharing Beyond the Classroom (Culminating Task Park Two)The class uses the choice board provided to decide how to share their compositions and learning regarding cyber bullying with a larger community either in their school, or online, to impact positive change and learning beyond the classroom. Options for taking action include a live performance, video scene, PSA, blog, poster campaign, and/or poems/raps. Students develop and implement their plans. Assessment for Learning: Observation Tracking Sheet |
125 minutes |