 |
|
|
The Nutcracker
ENGLISH
Speaking and Listening
KS1
The performance gives students the opportunity to listen to the story, respond appropriately, and offer feedback in class on points in the story which interest them. They can also identify and respond to sound patterns in language, such as rhyme and word play, used by the characters in the songs and the storytelling during the performance.
KS2
The performance gives students the chance to speak clearly on stage in response to certain parts of the production (for example, when students are picked to help the Sugar Plum Fairy). Students can also evaluate the overall effectiveness of the performance, including language variation and dialect forms of the many characters in the play.
Literature
The production gives both KS1 and 2 students the opportunity to explore classic literature and demonstrates how a story from a book can be adapted for the stage.
DRAMA
This show allows students to discuss the versatility of the actors (for example, when the actors use different body language and voices to portray a variety of characters). KS2 students can see how light, sound, costumes and set contribute to the overall performance.
PSHE & CITIZENSHIP
For both key stages 1 and 2 the production raises issues such as bullying, human emotion, friendship, kindness, love, right from wrong and teamwork.
HISTORY
The production enables children of all ages to research and explore classic stories and fairy tales from history and to also look at the period when the story was written. They can also compare the stories to modern day children’s literature.
KS1
Explore the story of The Nutcracker further, by the teacher telling the story and the children acting it out as the story is told.
Ask the children to walk around the room like different characters from the performance. When you say ‘freeze’ they stand still like statues. If they move then they are out of the game. Continue until there is a winner.
KS2
Students could investigate other stories from the past and present them to the rest of the class as a book review.
KS1 & KS2
The whole class could undertake some role-play. The teacher could take on the role of The Sugar plum fairy who invites the children to take part in her ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ competition. The children must come up with some dances from across the globe to entertain The Sugar Plum Fairy.
Make a poster advertising this performance of The Nutcracker. Tell the children to draw their favourite scene from the show.
Sing the songs from the performance, as a group. The children could then make up their own song all about Christmas. KS2 could work in small groups on this activity and KS1 could work as a whole class with support from the teacher.
Can investigate different toys from the past and create a TV advert to promote the toy. They could also make a poster to advertise their old fashioned toy.
KS2
Ask children to form a circle and encourage them to pretend to be different characters from the play. In turn, get them to sit in the middle of the circle while the other students ask questions about their character. The other children have to guess who they are.
Back to The Nutcracker Page
|
|
 |
