Looking for a new idea for some scene starters? Why not try using statistics? Using statistics offers a whole host of cross-curricular connections with drama class. Statistics are used in math, history, geography, political studies, sociology, and more. It gives students the chance to think differently about how scenes can be developed, and shows that ideas can come from just about anywhere.
Here are two ways you can use statistics as scene starters: Silly Statistics and Serious Statistics.
Use the Silly Statistics suggestions below as scene starters, or have students brainstorm their own ridiculous statistics. Students will use a statistic selected for them to improvise a debate.
Statistics can be a great way for students to create a PSA (public service announcement) that can be performed in various ways. This exercise could be used as a cross-cultural or cross-curricular project if you wished.
Have students select a topic that is important or interesting to them that they could search on their smartphones or classroom computer to find a statistic about. Here are some ideas to get them started:
From there, students find a statistic on their topic and use it as a jumping-off point for a playwriting exercise They will write a monologue or scene that brings attention to or dramatizes the issue in some way. For example, if a student is interested in literacy, they might use this statistic: “According to First Book Canada, a quarter of Canadian households don’t own a single book.” (Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/3748748/rising-concerns-over-literacy-rates-in-canada/) They might decide to write a monologue about a child who doesn’t own a book, or a scene demonstrating how not owning books can affect a student at school.
Your students can take this further and either perform the monologues or scenes as a live performance for their classmates, or create a video that can then be screened for the rest of the class. Students may wish to include different styles of performance within their scenes, such as movement/dance, mime, tableau, or poetry/verse/song.
by Lindsay Price
Scenes for Classroom Study consists of scenes from published Theatrefolk plays and is designed to help with character study, scene work, substitute teachers, performance, Individual Event competitions and so much more.
by Lindsay Price
Looking for quality scenes for your ensemble that haven't been done a million times? This Ensemble Scene Collection contains 33 scenes from published plays - great for competition and classwork!