Choose one fairytale and re-tell the tale using little or no dialogue.

This lesson plan is suitable for grade 7 and onwards, and could easily fit into a unit on physical theatre and/or mime.

Introduction / objectives

Starter

Development

Introduction

Can we really communicate without any words?

This lessons seeks to explore just that.

Learning objectives

To be able to demonstrate thoughts and feeling through nonverbal communication.

To be able to perform a well-known fairy tale without dialogue.

Key words
Nonverbal communication
Physical theatre
Body language
Facial expressions
Suspense
Gesture
Sound environment
Sound effect
Still image
Mime

Pete Piper tongue twister – (with a twist)

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers;
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked;
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

1. Ask students to repeat the tongue twister after you.
2. Make sure it is in unison.
3. Consider articulation.
4. Consider projection.
5. Replace the word “Peter” with a clap.
6. Replace “Piper” with a finger click.
7. Replace “pickled” with a jump.
8. Replace “peppers” with a 360 degree turn.

Bodies as objects (physical theatre)
Work together in groups to create the following objects:
A sofa
The letter T
A lampshade
A pirate ship
A car

Create the following objects using sound and movement:
A washing machine
A food blender
Popcorn popping
A door that opens and closed

Task one: (in pairs)

Teenager and parent improvisation

Students label themselves either the parent or the teenager.