Lesson Plan: Greek Tragedy

Lesson Plan

Greek Tragedy

Course: World Literature & Composition (10th Grade)

Unit: Drama

Objectives: Students will (a) distinguish Drama from other types of literature,
(b) learn about ancient Greek theater and plays, (c) link to prior knowledge of
Greek history and mythology, (d) read a classic Greek tragedy, and (e) create
an original tragedy using historical or mythological figures.

Georgia Professional Standards: ELAWLRL1, ELAWLRL4

Materials:

- Antigone
- Greek Theater PowerPoint
- Amphitheater Diagram
- Which Greek Mythology Character are You? (Page 1, Page 2, Page 3)
-  Pop Quiz
- Instructions for Project
- Sample Script (Page 1, Page 2)
- Student Scipt (Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7,
    Page 8, Page 9, Page 10)
- Rubric
-  Greek Recipes

Procedures:

1.	Review the major types of literature (Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Drama).
2.	Define Drama as a type of literature meant to be acted out on stage in front of an audience.
3.	Discuss how the element of performance affects one’s approach to reading a play. The structure of a play, for example, is much different than the structure of a poem or novel. How does the reader imagine what the actors are doing, when only dialogue is provided?
4.	Show PowerPoint on the history and characteristics of classical Greek theater. Students should take notes. The origin of theater as it exists today dates back to ancient Greece. The first plays were elaborate celebrations in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and pleasure. These parties took place in amphitheaters and were an ancient Greek version of a concert or festival. Plays evolved for entertainment, and then became a sport of sorts in which playwrights would compete. Among the most famous ancient Greek playwrights were Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes. There were two major types of plays: comedies and tragedies. The elements of a play included the chorus, dramatis personae, prologue, ode,
5.	Have students color and label a diagram of an amphitheater. So the students can visualize what the set of ancient Greek tragedy looks like, have them label and color the stage, seating, chorus, and other parts.
6.	Read Antigone. This will probably take 2-3 hours of class time, so figure out how to break it up over a couple of class periods. Assign parts. Incorporate comprehension exercises, question-and-answer assignments, discussion of literary concepts, etc. as needed.
7.	Give a Pop Quiz. After you’ve read and discussed Antigone sufficiently with the students, administer a pop quiz on major plot details and information reviewed while reading.
8.	Assign project. Put students into groups according to skill-level and potential to collaborate effectively with each other. Distribute project instructions and go over them with the students. Take personality test to determine which Greek mythology character you are most like. Research and read myths about this character. Work together with your group to write an original Greek tragedy starring your characters. Choose a team member to be the director, playwright, costume designer, set designer and/or production assistant. Perform your tragedies for the class.
9.	Allow students several days to work on projects. During this time, the directors should be managing and overseeing the overall project and also be the liaison between the teacher and the group. The playwrights should be granted access to computers to write the plays once the group as a whole has come up with an idea. The costume designers need to get together sheets and accessories for each character. The set designers should all work together to transform the classroom into an amphitheter, which may involve making columns out of construction paper, rearranging the furniture, and painting a backdrop. Lastly, the production assistant needs to be on hand to run any errand and do a variety of small but essential tasks.
10.	On the day the students perform their plays, bring in some food and beverages like the ones the ancient Greeks would have eaten at the parties in honor of Dionysus. Some things may include pita and hummus, feta cheese, olives, and pomegranate juice. Students may make dishes as well for extra credit!

Evaluation:

Homework: Amphitheater Diagram
Pop Quiz: Olympian Gods & Goddesses
Creative Writing Assignment: Greek Play

T.A.P.P. Outcome(s):

#6: The teacher will demonstrate ability to group and instruct students who vary in rate, ability, compatibility, and style of learning. In this lesson, students are put into groups. Within each group, each student is assigned a role in the process of creating an original Greek tragedy. For example, a student is more artistic would be assigned the role set design or costume design, whereas the student who is more interested in writing would be assigned the role of playwright.

#12: The teacher will demonstrate the ability to manage the physical classroom environment. Insofar as this lesson includes students' transformation of the classroom into the setting of an ancient Greek play, it demonstrates my ability to manage the physcial classroom environment.