SAMPLE SITE ONLY
This site is intended as a sampler for visitors. Volume I, Chapter 3, offers a preview of what every chapter will contain for those who purchase the books and the Roadmaps. See the order forms for purchasing details.
Chapter 3 Plays
The Story of Lexington: The Shot Heard 'Round The World
Performance
The play is broken into eight separate acts that can be performed individually in the context of a lesson, or performed together as a group. If done individually, ignore directions that refer to all the historical figures. If you decide to perform a smaller grouping of the acts, adjust directions accordingly.
Setting
A contemporary classroom. It is advised to place eight desks (or a couple of tables) for the historical figures in the front of the room in a semi-circle facing the rest of the class. The four student correspondents can be anywhere in the room or placed in front seats facing the historical figures. You may choose a podium for the chief student correspondent. A name plate in front of each historical figure is highly recommended. A 5x8 index card folded in half works great for this purpose. Several U.S. flags and appropriate American Revolution posters or maps in the background are a nice touch. If you are only performing one act at a time, then it is advisable to put the historical figure and the correspondents at the front of the room.
Costumes
Although not necessary, any period costumes for the historical figures are a great addition. Even a simple hat or wig is excellent.
Masks
Masks are an easy addition that will add to the drama and make the entire event more fun for the students. First, go to www.google.com and click on "image search." Type in the historical figure's name and find an image of the person. Copy and paste the picture in a Word document. You may need to crop and then enlarge the photo so you get a picture large enough to be used as a mask. Portraits obviously work best for this use. Print out the picture and paste it onto a cardboard backing. You can tape a plastic spoon or popsicle stick to be used as a handle. You may decide to make masks for the student correspondents as well, using pictures of television news personalities for the masks.
Note: If there you cannot find a picture for an historical person, don't despair! Almost any random "period" person's picture (as long as it not someone easily recognizable) would work as a mask.
Roles
Encourage students to act out the roles with as much energy as possible. Do not be too terribly concerned that the sex of the historical figure matches the sex of the student. The teacher may decide to take a part in the play, role-modeling one the historical figures. It is recommended that twelve copies of the scripts are specifically set aside for each character in the play. For each character, highlight all their lines in order to facilitate a faster pace of dialogue. All other students should receive an unmarked copy of the play to read as the play is performed.
Discussion
Use the corresponding worksheets to facilitate discussion before and after the play. Students who are not directly involved in the play can attempt to write preliminary answers as the play is performed. The audience should be told that they will be the primarily responsible for the discussion questions at the end of the lesson, although those playing parts will be great resource to the discussion.
The Story of Lexington (Play Script)Performance
The play is broken into eight separate acts that can be performed individually in the context of a lesson, or performed together as a group. If done individually, ignore directions that refer to all the historical figures. If you decide to perform a smaller grouping of the acts, adjust directions accordingly.
Setting
A contemporary classroom. It is advised to place eight desks (or a couple of tables) for the historical figures in the front of the room in a semi-circle facing the rest of the class. The four student correspondents can be anywhere in the room or placed in front seats facing the historical figures. You may choose a podium for the chief student correspondent. A name plate in front of each historical figure is highly recommended. A 5x8 index card folded in half works great for this purpose. Several U.S. flags and appropriate American Revolution posters or maps in the background are a nice touch. If you are only performing one act at a time, then it is advisable to put the historical figure and the correspondents at the front of the room.
Costumes
Although not necessary, any period costumes for the historical figures are a great addition. Even a simple hat or wig is excellent.
Masks
Masks are an easy addition that will add to the drama and make the entire event more fun for the students. First, go to www.google.com and click on "image search." Type in the historical figure's name and find an image of the person. Copy and paste the picture in a Word document. You may need to crop and then enlarge the photo so you get a picture large enough to be used as a mask. Portraits obviously work best for this use. Print out the picture and paste it onto a cardboard backing. You can tape a plastic spoon or popsicle stick to be used as a handle. You may decide to make masks for the student correspondents as well, using pictures of television news personalities for the masks.
Note: If there you cannot find a picture for an historical person, don't despair! Almost any random "period" person's picture (as long as it not someone easily recognizable) would work as a mask.
Roles
Encourage students to act out the roles with as much energy as possible. Do not be too terribly concerned that the sex of the historical figure matches the sex of the student. The teacher may decide to take a part in the play, role-modeling one the historical figures. It is recommended that twelve copies of the scripts are specifically set aside for each character in the play. For each character, highlight all their lines in order to facilitate a faster pace of dialogue. All other students should receive an unmarked copy of the play to read as the play is performed.
Discussion
Use the corresponding worksheets to facilitate discussion before and after the play. Students who are not directly involved in the play can attempt to write preliminary answers as the play is performed. The audience should be told that they will be the primarily responsible for the discussion questions at the end of the lesson, although those playing parts will be great resource to the discussion.