Class: Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1, JSS 1)
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 10
Age: 12 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Cultural And Creative Arts
Curriculum Theme: Cultural And Creative Arts
Previous Lesson: Elements of Drama,
Topic: Play Writing
Subject Matter: Definition of playwright, Categories of playwright: Classical, Modern, Contemporary. Duties of a playwright, Duties of a play director.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:
(a) Identify and describe the categories of playwrights.
(b) State the duties of a playwright and a play director.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the creative efforts of playwrights and directors in drama production.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Demonstrate a short group sketch showing the relationship between a playwright and a director.
Social Domain:
(a) Collaborate with peers during group discussion and dramatization.

Reference Materials

The following resources was used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
Lagos State Unified Scheme of work for Junior Secondary Schools
Wikipedia-Playwright
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing pictures of famous playwrights
Samples of drama scripts
Flash cards with the duties of a playwright and director
Short video clips or pictures of stage performances
Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the categories of playwrights and the different duties of playwrights and directors in drama production, fostering creativity and appreciation of theatrical arts.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have previously learned about drama, types of drama, and dramatic techniques. They can recall common stage activities and identify persons involved in a play production.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Play Writing

Definition of a Playwright

A playwright is a person who writes plays for performance on stage, radio, or television. The playwright creates the storyline, dialogue, and actions that actors perform to communicate ideas and entertain audiences.

Categories of Playwrights

Playwrights can be grouped based on the era or style of their works.
The following are the main categories of playwrights:

Classical Playwrights: These are writers from ancient or early historical periods such as Greece and Rome, who based their works on myths, gods, and heroes. Examples include Sophocles and Euripides.
Modern Playwrights: These are playwrights from the late 19th to early 20th centuries who focused on realism and social issues. Examples include Henrik Ibsen and George Bernard Shaw.
Contemporary Playwrights: These are modern-day writers whose works reflect current life, culture, and challenges. Examples include Wole Soyinka, Femi Osofisan, and Ola Rotimi.

Duties of a Playwright

A playwright performs several duties in the process of creating and preparing a play.
The following are the duties of a playwright:

Writes the play script and develops the story idea.
Creates the characters and their roles in the play.
Designs dialogue and stage directions for the actors.
Revises and edits the script to suit the performance needs.
Works with the director to ensure that the play’s message is clearly presented.

Duties of a Play Director

A play director supervises the staging of the play and ensures that the playwright’s ideas are brought to life through effective performance.
The following are the duties of a play director:

Interprets the play script and gives it stage meaning.
Selects the cast (actors and actresses) for the play.
Guides the actors on how to perform their roles.
Organizes rehearsals and coordinates stage activities.
Works with other production team members such as costume designers and stage managers to ensure a successful performance.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Lecture, Discussion, Explanation, Storytelling, Group Work, Demonstration, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher begins by asking pupils to mention their favorite plays or stage performances and guides them to identify who writes and directs such plays.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by naming familiar plays or writers.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of playwrights and play directors.

Step 2: Definition and Explanation of Playwright

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines a playwright and explains what play writing involves using examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and take notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand who a playwright is and what play writing entails.

Step 3: Categories of Playwrights

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the categories of playwrights—classical, modern, and contemporary—and provides examples of each using charts or pictures.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in discussion and identify Nigerian and foreign playwrights.
Learning Point: Pupils learn the different eras and categories of playwrights.

Step 4: Duties of a Playwright and Director

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation and Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the duties of both the playwright and the director, and demonstrates how a director guides a short scene.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils act out a short sketch directed by one of their peers.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the specific duties of a playwright and director in drama production.

Step 5: Note-Taking

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes the summary of the lesson on the board for pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the note into their exercise books.
Learning Point: Pupils have written notes for future study.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Who is a playwright?
Mention the three categories of playwrights.
State three duties of a playwright.
Mention two duties of a play director.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer the questions orally.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson content.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson and encourages pupils to watch or read plays to understand how playwrights and directors work together.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask questions.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate the role of playwrights and directors in drama.

Lesson Keywords

Playwright – a person who writes plays for stage performance
Drama – a written play performed by actors on stage
Director – the person who supervises and directs stage performances
Script – the written text of a play
Character – a person or role represented in a drama

Differentiation

Teacher provides simplified explanations for slower learners, while advanced learners research additional examples of playwrights and directors. Group discussions promote peer support.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage creativity and active participation. Use local examples of Nigerian playwrights to make the lesson relatable. Ensure pupils understand the teamwork between a playwright and a director.