Drama (Version 8.4)

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Rationale

This rationale complements and extends the rationale for The Arts learning area.
Drama is the expression and exploration of personal, cultural and social worlds through role and situation that engages, entertains and challenges.

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Aims

In addition to the overarching aims of the Australian Curriculum: The Arts, drama knowledge, understanding and skills ensure that, individually and collaboratively, students develop:

confidence and self-esteem to explore, depict and celebrate human experience, take risks and challenge their own creativity through drama

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Structure

Learning in Drama
Learning in Drama involves students making, performing, analysing and responding to drama, drawing on human experience as a source of ideas. Students engage with the knowledge of drama, develop skills, techniques and processes, and use materials as they explore a range of forms, styles and contexts.

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Example of knowledge and skills

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Years 5 and 6

Years 5 and 6 Band Description

In Years 5 and 6, students draw on artworks from a range of cultures, times and locations. They explore the arts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and of the Asia region and learn that they are used for different purposes. While the arts in the local community should be the initial focus for learning, students are also aware of and interested in the arts from more distant locations and the curriculum provides opportunities to build on this curiosity. 

As they make and respond to the arts, students explore meaning and interpretation, and social and cultural contexts of the arts. They evaluate the use of forms and elements in artworks they make and observe.

Students extend their understanding of safety in the arts. In Years 5 and 6, their understanding of the roles of artists and audiences builds on previous bands. They develop their understanding and use of performance or technical skills to communicate intention for different audiences. They identify a variety of audiences for different arts experiences as they engage with more diverse artworks as artists and audiences.

In Drama, students:

  • develop understanding of character through voice and movement and extend their understanding and use of situation, focus, tension, space and time
  • extend their understanding and use language and ideas to create dramatic action and consider mood and atmosphere in performance
  • use conventions of story and other devices such as dramatic symbol to communicate meaning and shape and sustain drama for audiences
  • explore meaning and interpretation, forms and elements including voice, movement, situation, space and time, and tension as they make and respond to drama.

Years 5 and 6 Content Descriptions

Explore dramatic action, empathy and space in improvisations, playbuilding and scripted drama to develop characters and situations (ACADRM035 - Scootle )
Literacy

Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
  • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
  • Comprehend texts
  • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

Text knowledge
  • Use knowledge of text structures

Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
  • Compose texts
  • Deliver presentations
  • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

Word Knowledge
  • Understand learning area vocabulary

Ethical Understanding

Reasoning in decision making and actions
  • Reflect on ethical action

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
  • Consider points of view

Understanding ethical concepts and issues
  • Explore ethical concepts in context

Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas
  • Organise and process information

Reflecting on thinking and processes
  • Transfer knowledge into new contexts
  • Reflect on processes

Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
  • Consider alternatives

  • experimenting with empathy to develop characters and relationships in drama and considering perspectives, exploring responses and challenging stereotypes
    Intercultural Understanding

    Interacting and empathising with others
    • Empathise with others
    • Consider and develop multiple perspectives

    Reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility
    • Challenge stereotypes and prejudices

    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Grammar knowledge
    • Express opinion and point of view

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Reflect on processes

  • exploring physical, fictional and emotional space to create characters and situations and imagined feelings
    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action
    • Consider alternatives
    • Imagine possibilities and connect ideas

    Numeracy

    Recognising and using patterns and relationships
    • Recognise and use patterns and relationships

    Using spatial reasoning
    • Visualise 2D shapes and 3D objects

  • manipulating dramatic action and use of available theatre technologies to create different meanings
    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Transfer knowledge into new contexts
    • Reflect on processes

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability

    Managing and operating ICT
    • Select and use hardware and software

    Creating with ICT
    • Generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks

  • comparing different ways improvisation and scripted drama create characters and action, and evaluating drama from other cultures and considering how they can use specific techniques in their own work
    Personal and Social Capability

    Self-awareness
    • Recognise personal qualities and achievements
    • Develop reflective practice
    • Understand themselves as learners

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning
    • Evaluate procedures and outcomes

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Reflect on processes

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action
    • Consider alternatives

    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Intercultural Understanding

    Interacting and empathising with others
    • Empathise with others
    • Consider and develop multiple perspectives

    Reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility
    • Challenge stereotypes and prejudices

  • Considering viewpoints – forms and elements: For example – How is the voice, movement, gesture and the body used to represent a character, situation or idea? How did the performers use the elements of drama? How can the devised drama be developed to communicate meaning?
    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

Develop skills and techniques of voice and movement to create character, mood and atmosphere and focus dramatic action (ACADRM036 - Scootle )
  • varying use of voice, for example, projection, dynamics, pace, pause and pitch, to create and communicate characters’ intentions
    Personal and Social Capability

    Self-awareness
    • Develop reflective practice
    • Understand themselves as learners

    Social management
    • Communicate effectively

  • trialling different ways to move in character and situations
  • Considering viewpoints – evaluations: For example – How did the performers use the elements of drama and design elements effectively? For what purposes did they make drama? What evidence supports your judgement about the drama?

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

  • adjusting the weight (heaviness or lightness of movement), speed, use of stillness, levels and movement through space to focus on character and situation and create dramatic action
    Numeracy

    Recognising and using patterns and relationships
    • Recognise and use patterns and relationships

    Using spatial reasoning
    • Visualise 2D shapes and 3D objects

    Using measurement
    • Estimate and measure with metric units

    Estimating and calculating with whole numbers
    • Estimate and calculate

    Personal and Social Capability

    Self-awareness
    • Develop reflective practice
    • Understand themselves as learners

  • altering voice and movement to show change in mood and atmosphere, and to create images, effects and an engaging delivery
    Personal and Social Capability

    Self-awareness
    • Develop reflective practice
    • Understand themselves as learners

  • rehearsing, interacting and negotiating with others in interpretation of scripts to create characters and their relationships
    Personal and Social Capability

    Self-awareness
    • Recognise personal qualities and achievements
    • Understand themselves as learners
    • Develop reflective practice

    Self-management
    • Work independently and show initiative
    • Become confident, resilient and adaptable
    • Express emotions appropriately

    Social management
    • Negotiate and resolve conflict
    • Work collaboratively

    Social awareness
    • Understand relationships

Rehearse and perform devised and scripted drama that develops narrative, drives dramatic tension, and uses dramatic symbol, performance styles and design elements to share community and cultural stories and engage an audience (ACADRM037 - Scootle )
Literacy

Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
  • Compose texts
  • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts
  • Deliver presentations

Word Knowledge
  • Understand learning area vocabulary

Text knowledge
  • Use knowledge of text structures

Personal and Social Capability

Social management
  • Communicate effectively
  • Work collaboratively

Self-awareness
  • Develop reflective practice
  • Understand themselves as learners

Self-management
  • Develop self-discipline and set goals
  • Become confident, resilient and adaptable

Social awareness
  • Appreciate diverse perspectives

Intercultural Understanding

Recognising culture and developing respect
  • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices
  • Develop respect for cultural diversity

Interacting and empathising with others
  • Consider and develop multiple perspectives
  • Communicate across cultures

  • creating narrative and tension to communicate dramatic meaning
    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Word Knowledge
    • Use spelling knowledge

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Imagine possibilities and connect ideas

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives

    Social management
    • Communicate effectively

  • Considering viewpoints – meanings and interpretations: For example – What did the performer intend audiences to experience and understand from the drama? Why did you make this drama?
  • exploring and applying different performance styles, and drawing on drama from other locations, cultures and times as sources of ideas in their own drama, and considering any protocols for representing community or cultural stories in performance
    Intercultural Understanding

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Develop respect for cultural diversity
    • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices

    Interacting and empathising with others
    • Consider and develop multiple perspectives
    • Communicate across cultures

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives

  • focusing communication with the audience by, for example, remembering lines, moves and cues in rehearsal and performance
    Literacy

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts
    • Use language to interact with others

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives

  • showing understanding of the purpose of rehearsing drama and the need for collaboration and group work
    Personal and Social Capability

    Self-awareness
    • Develop reflective practice
    • Understand themselves as learners

    Social management
    • Work collaboratively

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Reflect on processes

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

  • using props, costumes, instruments and available technologies such as light, sound and multimedia to create dramatic symbols and enhance dramatic action
    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Imagine possibilities and connect ideas

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Transfer knowledge into new contexts
    • Reflect on processes

    Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability

    Creating with ICT
    • Generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks

    Managing and operating ICT
    • Select and use hardware and software

  • planning and designing elements of their performance, for example, creating a stage design and interpreting diagrams and locations and using proximity and directional stage language in performance spaces during rehearsal
    Literacy

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text cohesion
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Visual Knowledge
    • Understand how visual elements create meaning

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Imagine possibilities and connect ideas

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Reflect on processes
    • Transfer knowledge into new contexts

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Numeracy

    Using spatial reasoning
    • Visualise 2D shapes and 3D objects
    • Interpret maps and diagrams

  • presenting their performances using internet-based technologies, including social media, and considering the place of a real or virtual audience and their effect on the performance
    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts
    • Deliver presentations

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Personal and Social Capability

    Self-management
    • Become confident, resilient and adaptable

    Self-awareness
    • Develop reflective practice

    Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability

    Creating with ICT
    • Generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks

    Communicating with ICT
    • Collaborate, share and exchange

  • using available software and applications to plan for playbuilding and to create scripts
    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action
    • Imagine possibilities and connect ideas

    Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability

    Managing and operating ICT
    • Select and use hardware and software

    Creating with ICT
    • Generate solutions to challenges and learning area tasks

    Literacy

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

Explain how the elements of drama and production elements communicate meaning by comparing drama from different social, cultural and historical contexts, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander drama (ACADRR038 - Scootle )
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
Literacy

Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
  • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts
  • Use language to interact with others
  • Compose texts

Grammar knowledge
  • Express opinion and point of view

Word Knowledge
  • Understand learning area vocabulary

Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas
  • Organise and process information

Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
  • Consider alternatives
  • Seek solutions and put ideas into action

Intercultural Understanding

Recognising culture and developing respect
  • Develop respect for cultural diversity
  • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices

Interacting and empathising with others
  • Consider and develop multiple perspectives
  • Communicate across cultures

Personal and Social Capability

Social management
  • Make decisions

Social awareness
  • Appreciate diverse perspectives

Self-management
  • Express emotions appropriately

  • reviewing their own drama, outlining how they used elements of drama and narrative structures and the consequences of collaborative processes
    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Use language to interact with others
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Grammar knowledge
    • Express opinion and point of view

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social management
    • Work collaboratively
    • Communicate effectively

    Self-awareness
    • Understand themselves as learners
    • Develop reflective practice
    • Recognise personal qualities and achievements

    Self-management
    • Become confident, resilient and adaptable

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Reflect on processes

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives

  • identifying and discussing different performance styles and the portrayal of different roles and relationships in the drama
    Personal and Social Capability

    Social management
    • Communicate effectively
    • Make decisions
    • Work collaboratively

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives

    Self-management
    • Express emotions appropriately

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Reflect on processes

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Use language to interact with others

  • talking and writing about drama from other places and times and how it might or does contribute to their own drama, and how cultural understandings shape meanings in drama
    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives

    Self-management
    • Express emotions appropriately

    Social management
    • Communicate effectively
    • Make decisions

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts
    • Use language to interact with others

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Grammar knowledge
    • Express opinion and point of view

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action
    • Consider alternatives

  • Considering viewpoints – societies and cultures: For example – What are the traditions, customs and conventions of this drama? How does this drama draw from other cultures, times and places? How have you used drama of other times, places and cultures in your own drama?
  • identifying the features of drama from other contexts, including investigating traditional and contemporary drama from Asia
    • Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia
    Intercultural Understanding

    Interacting and empathising with others
    • Consider and develop multiple perspectives
    • Communicate across cultures

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices
    • Develop respect for cultural diversity

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Transfer knowledge into new contexts
    • Reflect on processes

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action

    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

  • understanding that the drama of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is unique to the Country and/or Place of a particular group or groups, while also considering the protocols for particular performance styles and traditions such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customary practices
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
    Intercultural Understanding

    Interacting and empathising with others
    • Communicate across cultures
    • Consider and develop multiple perspectives

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Develop respect for cultural diversity
    • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Reflect on processes

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Personal and Social Capability

    Self-management
    • Express emotions appropriately

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives

    Social management
    • Make decisions

    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts


Years 5 and 6 Achievement Standards

By the end of Year 6, students explain how ideas are communicated in artworks they make and to which they respond. They describe characteristics of artworks from different social, historical and cultural contexts that influence their art making.

Students structure elements and processes of arts subjects to make artworks that communicate meaning. They work collaboratively to share artworks for audiences, demonstrating skills and techniques.

By the end of Year 6, students explain how dramatic action and meaning is communicated in drama they make, perform and view. They explain how drama from different cultures, times and places influences their own drama making.

Students work collaboratively as they use the elements of drama to shape character, voice and movement in improvisation, playbuilding and performances of devised and scripted drama for audiences.


Years 5 and 6 Work Sample Portfolios