Lesson Planning of Pantomime Skills

 

Lesson Planning of Pantomime (Gestures & Postures) Skills

Subject English

Grade 3^rd

Students` Learning Outcomes

• Use critical thinking to respond to the text (post reading) and Express understanding of story through pantomime.

Information for Teachers

• Pantomime is performing some act without the use of words pantomime / the use of movement and expression of the face and body to indicate meaning or tell a story but by using gestures postures, facial expressions, body language, etc.
  

 

• Pantomime can be used for the students to depict the actions in both poems and stories.

• Select a story which can be easily performed by the students and it is easily understandable.
  

 

 

• Don`t set a high standard. Ask students to perform simple actions.
• Students will be shy about doing this. The only way they will not feel shy is if you do pantomimes too. Show them how it is done? If you do it with confidence, the students will follow you too.
• It is better to move from the easy to difficult task. Start with expressions. It is easy and also fun to act out simple expressions.
•  For example; happy, sad
• While teaching the lesson, the teacher should also consult the textbook at all steps where it is required.

 

Material / Resources

Writing board, chalk / marker, duster, story book (choose a simple one such as the Hare and the Tortoise), worksheet, charts, textbook

Introduction

• In an exaggerated motion, bend your fingers as if you are holding a tea cup.
• Pretend to sip from that imaginary cup, making the sound that one does when the tea is hot.
  

 

• Smile to show that you are really enjoying your imaginary tea.
• Ask students to guess you are doing.
• If they guess correctly, tell them that what you just did was pantomime.
• Tell the students that gestures and postures are really important in their lives. Explain the concept of gestures and postures.
• Tell them the concept of pantomime. Explain how it helps to understand different expressions and thoughts.

Development

Activity 1

• Tell the students that, “I am going to look happy!” Smile and look happy.
• Ask the students to do the activity with you.
• Ask the students to show emotions and feelings by using only yours facial expressions. .
• The expressions may be these:
  

 

1. 1. 1. Happiness
      2. Sadness
      3. Fear
      4. Anger
      5. Surprise
      6. Hurt

• Encourage all the students to take part in the activity. This will improve their confidence.

Activity 2

• Divide the class in groups of four / five students.
• Write some simple actions on chits of paper and fold them.
• Here are some actions to try.
  

 

• Move your hands in large circles
• Knocking on the door
• Combing your hair
• Climbing a ladder
• Dancing
• Brushing your teeth
• Next, ask one, two or three volunteers from a group to come forward and pick a chit of paper.
• Ask the group they must act out the action written on the chit of paper.
• Tell the other groups to guess what they are doing?
• The group who will guess the most correct actions will be the winner.

 

Activity 3

• Select a story for pantomime.
  

 

• Read the story with expressions. Tell the students that they have to listen carefully and try to remember the sequence of events and emotions and feelings depicted by each character, focusing on how each character is feeling, thinking and acting.
• Ask some students to volunteer for the performance.
• Assign different characters to different students and ask them to re-read the story.
• You need to check about the number of characters and then ask for the number of students accordingly.
• Give them very simple tasks to perform. Give them sometimes (5-7 minutes) to get ready and plan the gestures and postures on their own. Don`t dictate or control at this stage.
• Tell the class that the group of students will be performing in front of them without any words. They will be using only body langue and the class has to guess what they are doing?
  

 

 

• Ask the group to perform. Stop them where you want the class to participate.
• Ask the class what is going on? You should help the performing students in their act.
• Keep helping the class and the performing students.
• Ask the end, appreciate the students who performed and ask the class to clap for them. It will boost their confidence.
• Tell them the complete story at the end.

 

Sum up / Conclusion

• Conclude the lesson by asking students how different feelings and actions can be depicted through pantomime. Ask them the difference between telling a story in words and pantomime. Clarify their understandings.
  

 

• Ask them what they enjoyed the most?
• How is this good activity for comprehending a text?

 

Assessment

• Ask some students to come forward. Ask them to perform some tasks without telling the class. They have to use their body and hands to perform some tasks. For example; eating, sleeping, etc.
  

 

• Encourage different students to show how the same action can be acted out in a different way, e.g. anger can be shown in so many different ways. Ask the class what they were doing? Try to call the students who are very shy?
• Involve the students in solving problems given in exercise at the end of unit / chapter.

 

Follow up

• Ask the class to select a story and ask them to prepare a pantomime for it. Ask them to perform the next day in front of the class.