Massachusetts K–6 theatre standards

Refine and complete artistic work. Repeat improvised scenes in different ways (e.g., imagine this character was happy, redo the scene if it were raining).

Relate artistic ideas and works to societal, cultural and historical contexts to deepen understanding. With support, identify different types of theatrical works (e.g., puppetry, musicals, improvisation.

Contribute story ideas in dramatic play.

Use everyday objects to create puppets, props, scenery, and costume pieces in dramatic play.

Understand difference between imagination and reality in dramatic play.

Focus on and pursue a process or idea to completion when experimenting during theatre activities.

Select, analyze and interpret artistic work for presentation. Identify realistic feelings characters might have in a theatrical work.

Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation. Demonstrate appropriate behaviors of a theatrical presentation (e.g., waiting to enter, bowing at the end).

Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work. Portray simple characters in dramatic play.

Perceive and analyze artistic work. Meet expectations of an audience member (e.g., listening quietly, clapping at the end).

Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work. Share observations regarding a theatrical work (e.g., "I noticed that all the mean characters were dressed in red")

Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work. Articulate personal responses to theatrical work (e.g., “this piece made me feel…” “this piece made me think…”)

Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. Make connections between personal experience and a character's actions or emotions.

Relate artistic ideas and works to societal, cultural and historical contexts to deepen understanding. Identify different sources of theatrical works (e.g., folk and fairy talks, everyday life).

Propose ideas for costumes, props, and scenery in a guided drama experience.

Contribute to the development of a sequential plot.

Build on others' ideas in dramatic play or a guided drama experience.

Creates props, costumes, or sets based on a plan (e.g., students place sheets over chairs to create a forest).

Propose new details to existing character, plot, and story in a guided drama experience.

Develop voices and body movements consistent with the character.

Select, analyze and interpret artistic work for presentation. Identify characters and settings in a specific theatrical work (e.g., the characters are the wolf and the three pigs, the setting is a Chinese village).

Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work. Portray a character based on an existing plan (e.g., script, improvisation structure)

Perceive and analyze artistic work. With support, identify the basic elements of theatre (including, character, plot).

Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work. Share observations regarding a theatrical work (e.g., "I noticed that the set looked like a city street").

Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work. Demonstrate active observation as an audience member (e.g., noticing details, making connections)

Relate artistic ideas and works to societal, cultural and historical contexts to deepen understanding. Describe ways theatre is different from everyday life. (i.e., what the role of artistic intent is in theatre)

Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. Create and articulate sensory details of imagined worlds and improvised stories.

Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. Record theatrical ideas for future use (e.g., writing a script with a clear beginning, middle, and end; describing details of settings or characters’ costumes).

Select, analyze and interpret artistic work for presentation. Explain how choices about technical elements (e.g. lighting, sound) in theatrical work support the director's purpose.

Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation. Demonstrate the use of technical elements to support a theme or idea in a theatrical work.

Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work. Perform scenes aligned with a teacher directed mood. (e.g., students improvise scenes in the mood of different adverbs, e.g., excitedly, fearfully, happily).

Perceive and analyze artistic work. Analyze how essential events in a story make up the dramatic structure of a theatrical work.

Identify how the basic technical elements of theatre (e.g., lighting, sound) are used to support the artist's purpose.

Identify the basic elements of theatre (e.g., character, plot).

Relate artistic ideas and works to societal, cultural and historical contexts to deepen understanding. Identify influential theatrical works from different periods and how they affected theatre.

Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. Generate interdisciplinary design ideas that support the story and given circumstances in a theatrical work.

Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. Develop essential events that make up the dramatic structure in an improvised or scripted theatrical work.

Articulate how characters might move, speak, and react to support a theatrical work.

Capture character dialogue and sensory details of imagined worlds and improvised stories in a script for a theatrical work.

Select, analyze and interpret artistic work for presentation. Explain character and design choices by developing an artist’s statement.

Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation. Develop effective physical and vocal traits of characters in an improvised or scripted theatrical work (e.g., altering voice, gestures, or posture).

Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work. Contribute to the performance of a short theatrical work with an audience (e.g., acting, writing or supporting a technical element) that makes connections to other disciplines.

Perceive and analyze artistic work. Analyze how the structure of a theatrical work supports the artist's intent (e.g., using three similar repeating events).

Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work. Use domain-specific vocabulary to identify details about a play or theatre work.

Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work. Apply a rubric to evaluate a theatrical scene.