Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Theater: Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Other Rhode Island Arts sets

Artistic Processes – Theater employs creative problem solving using tools, techniques, and technology in one or more disciplines in order to make the imagined tangible.

  • T1 (9-12)-1.

    Students show skill development in acting, directing, designing, and scriptwriting by…T1 (9-12)-1

    1. a.

      writing dialogues and scenes, applying basic dramatic structure: exposition, complication, conflict, crises, climax, and resolution

    2. b.

      developing stage directions for a play or performance based on a script

    3. c.

      developing a character as part of an ensemble using vocal characteristics and techniques, posture, movement, and language necessary to perform an effective characterization; showing text analysis and research to include the physical, social, and psychological dimensions of the characters

    4. d.

      designing or creating and analyzing designs that support or enhance the author's intent, based on text analysis and research

  • T1 (9-12)-2.

    Students solve artistic problems by…T1 (9-12)-2

    1. a.

      researching and generating strategies, and choosing one that addresses identified challenge inherent in the story (e.g., developing a metaphor of the protagonist's weakness)

  • T1 (9-12)-3.

    Students make connections among the arts and other disciplines by…T1 (9-12)-3

    1. a.

      demonstrating synthesis of a social or scientific conflict by performing a brief original dramatization (e.g., creationism vs. evolution)

    2. b.

      analyzing and evaluating a theatrical performance for its effective use of music, dance, or visual arts

  • T1 (9-12)Ext-1.

    Students show skill development in acting, directing, designing, and scriptwriting by…T1 (9-12)Ext-1

    1. a.

      presenting an improvisation or scripted scene, applying basic dramatic structure (exposition, complication, conflict, crises, climax, and resolution) and including complex characters with unique dialogue that motivates the action

    2. b.

      developing and evaluating the effectiveness of stage directions for a play or performance based on a script (e.g., notebook that records reflection and revision throughout the rehearsal process

    3. c.

      creating and presenting a character as part of an ensemble from classical, contemporary, realistic, or nonrealistic dramatic texts

    4. d.

      designing and creating designs for a play that enhance the author's intent, based on culture, history, and stage design

  • T1 (9-12)Ext-2.

    Students solve artistic problems by…T1 (9-12)Ext-2

    1. a.

      researching, generating, and implementing strategies that enhance the story (e.g., analyzing character's strengths and vulnerabilities and exploiting them in a disciplined and insightful performance)

  • T1 (9-12)Ext-3.

    Students make connections among the arts and other disciplines by…T1 (9-12)Ext-3

    1. a.

      demonstrating research and synthesis of concepts from literature, the social sciences, or scientific conflict by performing an original dramatization (e.g., Eleanor Roosevelt's platform speech as a candidate for president in the current time)

    2. b.

      researching and evaluating how a particular set designer's visual elements express time, place, and mood (how effectively the set pieces show us we are in a Restoration comedy based on color, shape, line, and placement of set pieces)

Cultural Contexts – Theater arts creatively expresses the values and ideas of human experience, community, and civilization.

  • T2 (9-12)-1.

    Students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of Theater Arts in personal, cultural, and historical context by…T2 (9-12)-1

    1. a.

      evaluating and applying historic or cultural techniques to an original story

    2. b.

      interpreting and evaluating cultural beliefs and traditions in the theater arts in two cultures and time periods (e.g., Ancient Greece, Commedia dell'arte, Medieval, Classical and Contemporary, Kabuki theater, African-American, Hispanic, Middle Eastern)

    3. c.

      researching and evaluating ways that theater, television, electronic media, and film influence their lives in positive and negative ways

    4. d.

      Researching cultural and historical references to design and create production elements

    5. e.

      analyzing different culture's expectations and appreciation of the role of the artists in society

    6. f.

      analyzing two different career opportunities and learning pathways to be a professional artist

  • T2 (9-12)Ext-1.

    Students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of Theater Arts in personal, cultural, and historical context by…T2 (9-12)Ext-1

    1. a.

      researching a cultural, philosophical, ethical, or religious issue described in the theater arts and presenting an influenced original work

    2. b.

      presenting researched interpretation and evaluation of a particular playwright's work from a particular period of time or culture and defend the evidence that holds the works together

    3. c.

      researching censorship policies and defend conclusion regarding the influence of theater, television, and film

    4. d.

      Performing, designing, or directing theater pieces in specific theatrical styles (e.g., by such playwrights as Sophocles, Shakespeare, Lope de Vega, Aphra Behn, Moliere, and Chekhov)

    5. e.

      researching a culture's expectation and appreciation of the role of the artist in society

    6. f.

      analyzing and evaluating a specific career opportunity and determining which learning pathway will lead to that career

Communication – Theater communicates meaning and expression through the sharing of human experience using image, sound, movement, words, space, time and chronology.

  • T3 (9-12)-1.

    Students demonstrate the ability to communicate in the language of the Theater Arts by…T3 (9-12)-1

    1. a.

      evaluating and applying performance and design techniques to convey evolving ideas, feelings, or meaning (e.g., connecting particular gestures with phrasing to imply a sense of place and social stature and how this behavior evolves as the character's life unravels or in aspects of design or writing)

  • T3 (9-12)-2.

    Students demonstrate the ability to extract meaning from Theater by…T3 (9-12)-2

    1. a.

      evaluating major and minor themes and characters and their symbolic representation (i.e., cultural references)

    2. b.

      evaluating techniques for their effectiveness and craft (e.g., critiquing actor's performance and the playwright's dialog)

  • T3 (9-12)Ext-1.

    Students demonstrate the ability to communicate in the language of the Theater Arts by…T3 (9-12)Ext-1

    1. a.

      evaluating and applying performance and design techniques to convey contrasting ideas, feelings, or meaning (e.g., utilizing developed skills to effectively perform tragic or comic roles or in aspects of design or writing)

  • T3 (9-12)Ext-2.

    Students demonstrate the ability to extract meaning from Theater by…T3 (9-12)Ext-2

    1. a.

      researching and evaluating major and minor themes and characters and their symbolic representation (i.e., cultural references) from the works of a particular playwright, culture, or period

    2. b.

      researching and evaluating a particular playwright's choice of techniques for their effectiveness and craft in two or more of her/his works

Aesthetic Judgment – Applying knowledge and skills of Theater Arts in order to reflect on and evaluate the work of self and others.

  • T4 (9-12)-1.

    Students reflect upon, analyze and evaluate the work of self and others by…T4 (9-12)-1

    1. a.

      evaluating a play or performances based on analysis of what is seen, heard, and known to judge its value and contribution to humanity

    2. b.

      evaluating character's objectives and motivations based on what is seen, heard, and known to explain character's behavior

    3. c.

      evaluating technical elements of theatrical production

    4. d.

      evaluating dramatic elements of a plot for their effectiveness and cohesiveness

  • T4 (9-12)Ext-1.

    Students reflect upon, analyze and evaluate the work of self and others by…T4 (9-12)Ext-1

    1. a.

      researching and evaluating two or more plays or performances that share a common theme, playwright or other aspect, based on analysis of what is seen, heard, and known, to judge its value to humanity and contribution to the theater arts

    2. b.

      researching two or more classic character types and analyzing how they have been characterized in theater and comparing the type to famous or infamous actual people, presenting a conclusion

    3. c.

      evaluating the production elements of a school or community play or performance and defend the value (e.g., contracts and unions, costs, lighting, ticket sales, logistical plan)

    4. d.

      directing a play or performance

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, and Grade 12
When were these standards adopted?
2010

Keep exploring

Keep exploring Arts standards

Sibling grade bands, other subjects in this jurisdiction, and the same subject across other states.