Unit Title: Exploring Non-Verbal Communication in Drama

Grade Level: 10-12

Unit Duration: 4-6 weeks

Unit Overview: This drama unit aims to develop students’ understanding and skills in non-verbal communication through various theatrical techniques and exercises. Students will explore the power of body language, facial expressions, gestures, and movement to convey emotions, thoughts, and narratives. The unit will provide opportunities for students with a variety of experiences in theater to deepen their understanding of non-verbal communication and its significance in dramatic storytelling.

Unit Objectives: 1. Understand the importance of non-verbal communication in theater and everyday life. 2. Develop skills in using body language, facial expressions, gestures, and movement to convey emotions and thoughts. 3. Explore the use of non-verbal communication to create characters and tell stories. 4. Collaborate with peers to create and perform non-verbal scenes. 5. Reflect on personal growth and development in non-verbal communication skills.

Week 1: Introduction to Non-Verbal Communication - Engage students in a discussion about the importance of non-verbal communication in theater and everyday life. - Watch and analyze clips from films or theater performances that effectively use non-verbal communication. - Introduce basic techniques for using body language, facial expressions, and gestures to convey emotions and thoughts. - Engage students in improvisation exercises focusing on non-verbal communication.

Week 2: Exploring Physicality and Movement - Introduce the concept of physicality and its role in non-verbal communication. - Lead students through warm-up exercises to develop body awareness and control. - Explore different movement qualities and their impact on conveying emotions and characters. - Collaboratively create short movement-based scenes that tell a story without using any words.

Week 3: Facial Expressions and Emotions - Introduce the importance of facial expressions in non-verbal communication. - Engage students in exercises to develop their ability to express a range of emotions through facial expressions. - Analyze and discuss the use of facial expressions in famous theatrical scenes. - Collaboratively create scenes where facial expressions are the primary means of communication.

Week 4: Gestures and Physical Storytelling - Explore the significance of gestures in non-verbal communication. - Engage students in exercises to develop their ability to use gestures effectively to convey meaning and narrative. - Analyze and discuss the use of gestures in various cultural performances. - Collaboratively create scenes where gestures are the primary means of storytelling.

Week 5: Character Development through Non-Verbal Communication - Introduce the concept of character development through non-verbal communication. - Engage students in exercises to develop physicality, gestures, and facial expressions specific to different characters. - Collaboratively create scenes where each student portrays a unique character using non-verbal communication. - Provide opportunities for peer feedback and reflection on character choices.

Week 6: Culminating Performance and Reflection - Students work in small groups to create and rehearse non-verbal scenes that incorporate various techniques learned throughout the unit. - Perform scenes for the class, followed by a group discussion and reflection on the effectiveness of non-verbal communication in conveying emotions, thoughts, and narratives. - Students individually reflect on their personal growth and development in non-verbal communication skills throughout the unit.

Assessment: - Observation of students’ participation and engagement in class activities and exercises. - Peer feedback and self-reflection on individual and group performances. - Written reflections on personal growth and development in non-verbal communication skills.