Week 4: Character
Our fourth week’s content covers Character. How can you “become” a character? How can you keep your characters distinct? How can you combine voice, body language, and emotion to tell a convincing story?
Includes presentation slides, activities list, and recommended readings. Presentation covers character voice, character expression, and tone.
Recommended Activities
Create a Character
Have students come up with a character (can be anything they want) and share a story for their character. What does this character want? How do they feel? How will you tell their story?
Objective: help students understand character motive and story
Character Interview
Have other students in the class interview a student as their character with wacky questions. Think about how your character would answer the questions before answering the question yourself. Each interview lasts 2 minutes.
Students can also try to impersonate a celebrity or other famous person if there is time
Objective: help students “get in character” and practice storytelling
Recommended Readings for Younger Students (grade 6 and below)
Recommended Readings for Older Students (grade 7 and above)
Week 3: Vocal Expression
Our third week’s content covers more aspects of Voice. How can you use your voice to create a stronger effect? How do you emphasize moments?
Includes presentation slides, activities list, and recommended readings. Presentation covers changes in volume and speed and pauses.
Recommended Activities
Amp
Have students practice reading an excerpt at three different volumes (quiet, regular, and loud) and emphasize the importance of being heard
Afterwards, have students practice identifying which parts sound better quiet, regular, and loud
Objective: help students understand the importance of reading at the appropriate volume and the effect of volume on interpretation
Rev
Have students practice reading an excerpt at three different speeds (slow, medium, and fast)
Afterwards, have students practice identifying which parts sound better slow, medium, and fast
Objective: help students understand the importance of reading at the appropriate speed and the effect of speed on interpretation
Recommended Readings for Younger Students (grade 6 and below)
Recommended Readings for Older Students (grade 7 and above)
Week 2: Vocal Variation
Our second week’s content covers Voice. How do you change your voice to fit a story?
Includes presentation slides, activities list, and recommended readings. Presentation covers vocal variation, emotion, projection, and diction, among others.
Recommended Activities
Inside Out
Have each student in the group read a chosen excerpt with a different emotion (sadness, disgust, anger, excitement, and surprise). Students can ONLY read the paragraph using the emotion they are assigned. What do you notice? How did it make you feel?
Objective: help students understand when and why to use emotion in speaking
Filler Word Game
Students try to speak for as long as you can on any topic without using any filler words. Instructor may provide students with prompts from a list.
Instructor times the student until they hear them say a filler word -> max is 3 minutes
Whoever speaks the longest without filler words wins
Objective: help students learn to remove filler words when they are speaking
Recommended Readings for Younger Students (grade 6 and below)
Recommended Readings for Older Students (grade 7 and above)
Week 1: Body Language
Our first week’s content covers Body Language. How do you present yourself to audiences with your body? How can you tell a story using your body? Includes presentation slides, activities list, and recommended readings.