DRAMA with MR. DAN
TEACHING PORTFOLIO
EXAMPLE LESSON: TEACHING ACTORS "SILENT NEGOTIATION OF GROUP SHAPES"
Notes: In this drama lesson, students silently improvised the shapes of a "FIRE BREATHING DRAGON" and then a "CEREAL BOWL". In this video the students are showcasing what they already created a few minutes earlier. Skills for collaboration are challenged, including:
(1) quick thinking (seeing potential solutions and making clear choices)
(2) being open to change (flexibility)
(3) kindness (moving safe and fair in a group)
The overall skill of "silent group negotiation" is also called "flocking", as it mimics the phenomenon of a flock of birds moving without a single leader guiding them.
Director and Technical Designer: Stage Production: Annie Jr.
Notes:
North Jakarta Intercultural School http://www.njis.org/
License from Music Theatre International https://www.mtishows.com/
Directed by Ilonka Meier and Dan Fleming
Musical Direction by Yelena Petrova
Choreography by Teresa Vecino and MTI
Stage Management by Andrew Jia-Chi Mae
Stage Design by Ilonka Meier and Dan Fleming
Lighting Design by Dan Fleming
Prop Management - Elsa Van der Westhuizen
Starring Esha Adnani (Annie) and Natesa Santi-Fleming (Mrs. Hannigan) See video for other credits
Assessment: Rubric and Peer Evaluation/Reflection for CHORUS project
Notes: The CHORUS project involved 3-5 students moving and speaking together at the same time to give the effect of a crowd of characters. Each group had four scenes to construct: ghosts whispering, a crowd chanting, kids whining to their parents, and Power Rangers announcing. The project assessment was comprised of 2 assessments:
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The performance rubric (i.e. acting skills)
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A peer evaluation of the planning and preparation (i.e. how easy/helpful are you with your group members)
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A self evaluation of the planning and prepartion
The peer and self evaluations were averaged to produce a report, anonymously showing individuals how they marked themselves and how their group members felt about their effort.
SHADOW PUPPET PLAYS (with light and music cues)
 Dino, Hamster and Flying Turtle |  Paper, Tape, Straw, Chopstick |  Dino and Fish |  Students control lights and music |  Cue lights and music! |  Dunnn Dunnn Dunnnnnnn!!! (surpise SFX) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shy kids coming out of their shell |
Notes: This Shadow Puppet drama unit is a favorite among my students. Over 3 weeks of lessons, students create their own shadow puppet play in a group of 2-3 actors. This year I created a PowerPoint slideshow to design 5 colourful scenes with accompanying music to cue suspenseful changes in the story. Students learned about voice projection and expression; storytelling using a "rule of 3"; puppet gestures using breath and pace of movement; as well as the science of shadows, projectors and screens inspired by Chinese traditions.
EMOTIONAL LITERACY UNIT (EXPLORING AUTISM AND ASPERGER'S SYNDROME)
Notes: This project guided students through an exploration of what it might be like to live with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome, as well as the language of facial expressions to encode emotions.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR SUPPORT: LORD AYLMER IDOL 2016
Notes: I created this video to pump up the audience and introduce the 10 singing contestants for this extra-curricular activity. I conducted small interviews with each student, enlisting the help of volunteers to hold up two white pieces of paper to bounce sunlight upwards on to each actor's face. I also installed the stage lighting for the performance, as well as controlled the AV equipment for the performance in front of 300 students and parents.