A.

Webquest Lesson Plan Outline

Title and description of curriculum unit: History of Drama: Greek Tragedies
Intended grade level: 9th-12th
Specific learning objects:
Students will become familiar with the three major Greek writers of tragedy and issues of Greek
plays.
What is the essential question? How did the first playwrights influence theatre?
Rubric/assessment criteria * See Attachments
Rubric 1: Answer Questions based on research of Ancient Greece
Rubric 2: Writing Assignment on the Greek philosophers
Rubric 3: Performance: A modern version of the playwrights play/ script.
Standards addressed:
TAHSFTI.6 Researching cultural and historical information to support artistic choices
TAHSAIII.8 Examining the roles of theatre as a reflection of past and present civilizations
Multiple options for students to demonstrate comprehension and mastery: Students will be
able to
write 1 page research essay on one of the Greek playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles,
Euripides
write an essay describing the subtext of historical plays and present arguments to support
their choices.
identify key terms.
write modern scripts based on the one of the Greek play Antigone, Oedipus Rex or Medea
and execute the proper techniques used to create believable performances through
performing updated version of Greek tragedies.

Student Hook: Students will view an Animoto Video that will show them a brief introduction to
the 3 Greek Playwrights.

VoiceThread/Animoto:
http://animoto.com/play/io6iL11bD4zfm71QPsqH2Q

B . Student Handouts
Part I
What will I learn: You will become familiar with the three major Greek writers of tragedy and
issues of Greek plays.
Assignment 1: Research
Step 1: Individually you will go to http://animoto.com/play/io6iL11bD4zfm71QPsqH2Q and
view a brief introduction to the Greek Playwrights. Then go to
http://academic.reed.edu/humanities/110tech/theater.html#timeline and read background
information on Greek Theater. Then answer the following questions:
1. Who was Thespis?
2. Name the 3 famous Greek Playwrights.
3. Name at least 3 plays these playwrights have written
4. What is an amphitheater?
5. The Greek theatre was dedicated to one god in particular named?
6. Why is the city of Dionysia important?
7. What is the accepted structure for Greek tragedy?
8. What was the main purpose of the chorus in a Greek tragedy?
9. What is a skene?
10. Who was Aristotle and how is he important?
Assignment 2:Choose Your Playwright
Step 1: You will be placed in groups of 6. As a group, you will pull the name of one playwright.
The playwright you choose is the playwright you and your group will research.
Step 2: You can find information on your playwright here:
http://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/greek.html
Step 3: You will write a 1 page essay on your playwright. In your paper you must include:
1. The plays have they written.
2. Biographical information on the playwright.
3. Interesting things about this playwright.
4. What are some major social issues this author explores?
5. What is this author's stand on political issues, economic issues, social issues, religious
issues, etc ? How does this relate to modern day issues?

Notes: Guidelines and proper citation APA 6th edition. Students please give proper citation in your paper.
If you use another persons ideas, please place them in quotation marks and cite your source. Even if you

have paraphrased those ideas in your own words, you must cite your work. Please APA style, 6 th edition.
The following website will help you cite your work:
http://citationmachine.net/index2.php?reqstyleid=2

Rubrics for Assignment Part I:

Rubric for Research
Assignment 1: Each question is worth 10 points apiece. All questions must be correct and
answered in complete sentence
Assignment 2:
CATEGORY

10

Organization

Information is very
organized with wellconstructed paragraphs
and subheadings.

Information is
organized with wellconstructed
paragraphs.

Information is
organized, but
paragraphs are not
well-constructed.

The information appears

to be disorganized.

Quality of
Information

Information clearly
relates to the main topic.
It includes several
supporting details
and/or examples.

Information clearly
relates to the main
topic. It provides 12 supporting details
and/or examples.

Information clearly Information has little or

relates to the main nothing to do with the
topic. No details
main topic.
and/or examples are
given.

Amount of
Information

All topics are addressed All topics are

Some topics are
Two or more topics were
and all questions
addressed and most addressed, and some not addressed.
answered
questions answered questions answered

Notes

Notes are recorded and Notes are recorded

organized in an
and are somewhat
extremely neat and
organized.
orderly fashion.

Notes are recorded. Notes are recorded only

with peer/teacher
assistance and reminders.

Internet Use

Successfully uses
suggested internet links
to find information and
navigates within these
sites easily without
assistance.

Occasionally able to
use suggested
internet links to find
information and
navigates within
these sites easily
without assistance.

Usually able to use

suggested internet
links to find
information and
navigates within
these sites easily
without assistance.

Needs assistance or
supervision to use
suggested internet links
and/or to navigate within
these sites.

Citations

Citations are neat,

Citations are
accurate and APA style. accurate and and
APA style.

Citations somewhat Citations are not accurate

neat and accurate
OR are not APA style.
and sometimes and
APA style.

Playwright Writing Rubric*

B . Student Handouts
Part II
Step 1: Find one play written by your playwright here:
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/greektheater/a/051210GreekPlays.htm
Here are some examples of plays you can perform:
1 http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/medea.html
2 http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.html
3 http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/antigone.html
Step 2: Read the play and write a brief synopsis on the play
Step 3: Using the information you have found, write a modern version of one of the ancient plays.
Click here to learn how to write a play in script form: http://www.playwriting101.com/

Rubrics for Assignment III:

B . Student Handouts
Part III
Step 1: Once your play has been checked and approved, you may begin rehearsing.
Step 2: Choose your crew. Director, stage manager, light designer, costume designer, Properties
chief, Actors, ect. Everyone must have a role (job) in your production

Rubrics for Assignment Part II & III

*Performance Rubric

1.5

.5

Character
Connection

Actor interacted
naturally with other
actors to create realistic
relationships people
cared about.

Actors talked to
each other and had
a relationship, but it
may have been a
little unclear.

Actors talked to
each other, but had
limited connection.
A relationship is not
present. Actors
occasionally broke
character.

Actor recited lines in

spite of each other and
looked as though they
were in different
scenes. Actors did not
stay in character.

Memorization

Actor knows all of their

lines so well that there
are no hesitations.

Actor knows lines

very well, there are
few hesitations.

Actor know lines to

a degree but there
are long pauses.
Much hesitation is
present.

Actor does not know

their lines and
hesitates so much that
their scene is
distracting.

Actor speaks as if the

words are their own.
There is a connection
between the actor and
the audience.

Actor is
comfortable with
their lines. The
actors performance
is usually
believable.

Actor is
uncomfortable with
the lines and
expresses emotion
occasionally.

Actor does not know

what they are talking
about. No emotion is
expressed.

Actor can be heard

clearly.

Actor can usually

be heard clearly
and very rarely
mumbles.

Actor can only be

heard half the time
due to mumbling or
lack of projection.

Actor cannot be heard

or mumbles so much
that they cannot be
understood.

Actor uses their body

(gestures, business,
blocking) to help
reinforce what they are
saying. Their body
movement is also
motivated by the text.

Actor usually uses

their body
(gestures, business,
blocking) to help
reinforce what they
are saying. Their
body movement is
usually textually
motivated.

Actor rarely uses

their body
(gestures, business,
blocking) to help
reinforce what they
are saying. Actor
did not keep body
open to audience.

Actor uses little or

none of their body to
help express what they
are saying. Their
body movement is
distracting and does
not make sense with
the text.

Subtext

Vocal Elements

Physical
Elements

*Amphitheater Schools

*Technical Rubric

Costumes

Makeup

Lights

Set Design

Perfect, designs
clear enough to
build the
costumes

Design of
quality of
profession
Chemical
properties
considered

Affect the
audiences mood,
make them feel
the intended
emotion

Accurate & Perfect,

designs
Original idea, fits the
play

Proficient
4

Skill, care given,

original idea, fits
character, clear
focus

High effort,
clear and
consistent
design, fits
together and a
clear idea

Skill is evident,
mood is clearly
displayed and
communicated

Original idea, fits the

play.

Adequate
3

A visual display
that pertains to a
character. Some
effort taken.

A visual
display that
pertains to a
character.
Some effort
taken

A visual display
that pertains to the
story. Some effort
taken. Creates a
definite mood

May be
disorganized
unfocused, sloppy
or hurried

May not fit

character well

Not a clear mood,

unclear focus may
have random
visuals

May be disorganized
unfocused, sloppy or
hurried

Unprepared or
incomplete

May use wrong

colors or
unlabeled
colors, not
specific
choices of
colors

No mood
established, no
clear plan

No effort made or
incomplete

Distinguished
5

3 or more
examples per
character or 3 or
more characters

Novice
2

Beginner
1

May be sloppy,
not blended,
makeup not
identified, just
guessed with
colors

Some effort taken.

*http://www.ccs.k12.in.us/chspa/theatre/Curriculum/BTTechProjRubric.htm