IVY HAWN ELEMENTARY DRAMA
RACHEL TERHUNE
about Mrs. Terhune
Previous to Ivy Hawn, I had been running a small dance/theatre company on the side. My company had owned a small studio where we provided classes and produced community theatre performances. My personal education and degrees are in theatre. I graduated from Florida School of the Arts with an AA in Acting and the University of Central Florida with a BA in General Theatre.
I love teaching! My curriculum is full of variety as I have the pleasure to teach K-5. The range of student ages and their approaches to theatre is fascinating. I love being able to provide them with their first glimpse of this art form and see their eyes light up. My approach has been basically a walk through history, starting with the Greeks, moving through Shakespeare, and a few other time periods before reaching contemporary drama and musicals. I personally have researched a variety of teaching methods and I gravitate toward a Montessori style of providing the class with the ability to be independent and curious at all times.
4th/5th Grade Drama Units/Lesson Plans
August
- Classroom Procedures and Intro to Elementary Drama
- Parts of the Stage (9 locations)
- Mime history and skillset (mirroring, partner work, etc.)
September
- Mime scenes, partner work
- Greek theatre history (mask work and creation)
- Showcase choices/casting
October
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
- Shakespeare history and script reading
- Showcase rehearsals
November
- Character Study (creation and documentation; costume design included)
- Showcase rehearsals
December
- Showcase rehearsals
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
- Review of fall semester topics
January
- Showcase performances
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
- Tableaus
- Radio Dramas
February
- African American Theatre (history and script reading)
- Scene building (character work, ensemble acting, etc.)
March
- Beginning of Monologue unit (character voice, fundamentals of playwrighting, etc.)
- Game Play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
- Improv discussion (history and game play)
April
- Finalization of Monologues (performance, critique, etc.)
- 4 person rapid-fire scene writing, Set design
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
May
- Stage Makeup (complete with in-class demonstration)
- Intro to Musicals (review of Broadway pieces and discussion)
- Review of Spring semester lessons, primary focus on theatrical vocabulary
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
2nd/3rd Grade Drama Units/Lesson Plans
August
- Classroom Procedures and Intro to Elementary Drama
- Parts of the Stage (9 locations, group test)
- Mime history and skillset (Pass the Face, Guess the Activity, etc.)
September
- Puppet work
- Greek theatre history (mask work and creation)
- Group Character Study (creation and documentation; costume design included)
October
- Script work (reading scenes and whole class plays)
- Shakespeare history and London's Globe tour
- - Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
November
- Personal history accounts and stage practice (Story of Name, Star Student, etc.)
- Conflict Resolution using puppetry (improv skills and problem solving)
- Showcase Casting
December
- Showcase Rehearsals
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
- Set Design
- Review of fall semester topics
January
- Showcase Rehearsals
- Intro to Musicals (review of Broadway pieces and discussions)
- Radio Drama (history and activities, Mick Munter & Dr. Floyd)
February
- Showcase Rehearsals
- Scene work and history (either Latin Theatre or Native American Theatre)
- Story creation
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
March
- Showcase Performances
- Script reading
- Stage Makeup with in-class demonstration
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
April
- 2-person scene creation (story building, script writing, rehearsals and production)
- Tech Jobs in theatre (outside performance)
- Environment work
May
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
- 2-person scene performances
- Script reading
- Review fundamentals
1st Grade/Kindergarten Drama Units/Lesson Plans
August
- Classroom Procedures and Intro to Elementary Drama
- Parts of the Stage (9 locations, group test)
- Mime history and skillset (Pass the Face, Guess the Activity, etc.)
September
- Puppet work
- Greek theatre history (mask work and creation)
- Group Character Study (creation and documentation; costume design included)
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
October
- Script work (reading scenes and whole class plays)
- Shakespeare history and London's Globe tour
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
November
- Personal history accounts and stage practice (Story of Name, Star Student, etc.)
- Conflict Resolution using puppetry (improv skills and problem-solving)
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
December
- Showcase Casting
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
- Set Design
- Review of fall semester topics
January
- How to Build a Story
- Fairy Tale Unit (create our own fairy tale, turn into script, performance)
- Radio Drama (history and activities; Story Pirates)
- Showcase Rehearsals
February
- Showcase Rehearsals
- Energy
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
March
- Showcase Rehearsals
- Kabuki (history and activities)
- Stage Makeup (kabuki oriented)
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
April
- Showcase Rehearsals
- Free imagination play (centers based on costumes, props, and design)
- Puppet Work
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
May
- Showcase Performances
- Character Voice Work
- Environment Tableaus
- Character Creation (costume design and character study)
- Game play (variety of improv, concentration, focus, and character games)
Feel free to contact me about any Elementary Drama class happenings at terhuner@ivyhawnschool.org or on the Remind app @ihedrama
Extracurricular Drama Activities
Please find all information pertaining to after-school theatre activities here.
TSquad
Mainastage Productions
Our Fall Mainstage Show will be...
Little Women of
Orchard House
Audition forms can be found here
Tickets will be available soon!
Showcases Performances
Coming soon!!