Ricky's Slide #0 Teacher's Introduction

Personhood Curriculum

6th Grade
Ricky's Slide #0
Teacher's Introduction
Lesson Plan
aphg6-15

Special Comments to Teachers

This document introduces a series of four lessons that will likely extend over 3 class periods.
They are a dose of “Real World 101.”
The series dramatizes the importance of not getting behind in school, and in facing life.
It also teaches that a TRUE friend will try to help their friend who is messing up his life.

Teaching Goals of the series

To motivate 6th grade students to work hard in school.
Provide a worst case scenario of what could happen to students who don't understand the importance of education.
How to support each other in Jr. High.
Impart the true meaning of friendship.
Help understand that anger is a secondary emotion.
Expand the Student's Self Interest Horizon so they will be intrinsically motivated to learn the student skill lessons that will be presented this year.

Lesson covers these concepts.

This is a dose of “Real World 101.”
It is an acknowledgment that the 6th grader’s school world is now different, more stressful, and more difficult. Students need to know that what they are experiencing is normal.
A warning about not falling behind.
What are some of the danger signs of falling behind? A warning to be on the lookout!
Relevancy of doing well now, in relationship to the student’s future school and life after school.
How much difference a little extra effort can make, Vs. what can happen with too little effort.
What is a good friend, how do they act? A TRUE friend will try to help their friend who is messing up his life.
Anger is a secondary emotion.
How a good friend can help. How to do it.

Teaching Methods

Dramatic readings (3 of them)
A graph.
Questions and Discussions

Teacher Prep

This Prep is for all 4 lessons.

Print each of these three scripts.

"Ricky’s Slide," A dramatic reading, Act 1. A Poor Ending - - - ricky2.rtf
Make 11 copies. One copy is for you. Five will be given to your readers to practice. Five are held by you until class time, in case all five students forget their copies, or there has to be a substitute actor.
"Ricky’s Slide," A dramatic reading, Act 2. What is a Friend? - - - ricky4.rtf
Make 7 copies. One is for you. Three will be given to your readers to practice. Three are held by you until class time, in case all three students forget their copies, or there has to be a substitute actor. NOTE: there are 5 actors, but two do not have any lines.
"Ricky’s Slide," A dramatic reading, Act 3. A Different and Better Ending - - - ricky5.rtf
Make 7 copies. One is for you. Three will be given to your readers to practice. Three are held by you until class time, in case all three students forget their copies, or there has to be a substitute actor.
Print out the document "How Ricky Grows in His Abilities" - - - growth.htm - - - growth.gif
Make a projection transparency of it. Make copies for students.

Student Readers

Learn from the 5th grade teacher of your students, which ones are good readers and would be good at doing a dramatic reading. You need at least five. At least two girls and one boy. The gender of the remaining two doesn't matter. Contact them early on to see if they will do the reading.

Fill in reader's names on the three scripts that will be given to readers. Give readers script copies. Arrange a time to rehearse.

Set up a time and place for a rehearsal.

Rehearsal
Special Instructions and Definitions
Since these are dramatic readings, there is no need to memorize lines.
Staging directions that tell the actors where to be on stage, use the actors facing the audience as reference. Example: The term Stage Right means to the right side of the actor, as the actor faces the audience.
Have the actors practice strong and clear voice projection. Coach them.
Actors should stand partially facing each other and partially the audience at the same time. This aids getting the sound out to the audience.
"ASIDE" is when the actor turns his head and eyes to the audience and imparts the character's unspoken thoughts.
Advanced Personhood Sequence. Links to grade 6 Lesson Plans.
Return to Advanced Personhood Lesson Sequence
Go to Master Contents

As of: 15 Aug '03