The following are full lesson plans to facilitate student exploration, learning, and expression around 1776 and the study of the declaration of independence. Each lesson is connected to one or more We Declare essential questions, and integrate one or more Activate activities.
Teachers should identify the elements that would best support their course objectives and students’ learning, and A.R.T. teaching artists are available to offer guidance and ideas at Education@amrep.org.
Terminology Show & Tell
Explore the meaning of fundamental American principles and values by creating tableaux.
Explore the meaning of fundamental American principles and values by creating tableaux.
Living Timelines
Visualize and physicalize key events and people with a living timeline.
Visualize and physicalize key events and people with a living timeline.
Personal Belief Symbols & Statements
Create personal belief symbols and statements.
Create personal belief symbols and statements.
Question Sculptures & Tableaux
Respond physically to ideas about democracy and freedom.
Respond physically to ideas about democracy and freedom.
Where We Stand
Take a stance on core philosophical debates in our democracy.
Take a stance on core philosophical debates in our democracy.
Perspectives Debates
Debate contrasting perspectives on key decisions in the founding of the United States.
Debate contrasting perspectives on key decisions in the founding of the United States.
Break-Up Monologue
Explore decision-making and reasoning by writing a break-up letter between Great Britain and the colonies.
Explore decision-making and reasoning by writing a break-up letter between Great Britain and the colonies.
Yesterday/Tomorrow/Today
Connect the past and present of our country, and declare intentions for the society we wish to build.
Connect the past and present of our country, and declare intentions for the society we wish to build.
Selecting Elements
Suggestions for how participants can decide what to include in a performance.
Suggestions for how participants can decide what to include in a performance.
Structure
Suggestions for how participants could structure a performance.
Suggestions for how participants could structure a performance.
Add Production Design
Suggestions for how simple production elements can add layers of detail to a performance.
Suggestions for how simple production elements can add layers of detail to a performance.
Exercises and activities in the Activate and Declare sections of this website are influenced by and draw on a variety of theater education and community-building practices. For more theater-based arts integration ideas, we recommend checking out the work of theorists such as Viola Spolin, Augusto Boal, Paolo Friere, John O’Neal, Eileen Landay, and Kurt Wooten.