Rationale

Context: This lesson plan was created in the first summer session of 2007 under the guidance of Dr. Susan Gilbert.

Impact: As part of a study on the dust bowl era, I created this unit lesson plan that enables students to learn and express themselves through the drama of a commercial.  As a teacher, this lesson set will help me to teach students through dramatic theater arts. This time in history is an important one that students of this day and age can particularly relate to as the financial world of that day is similar to the financial world of today.

Standard 6: Elementary teachers have an understanding of the basic concepts of the arts.

Indicator 1: Teachers understand the basic vocabularies, materials, techniques, and thinking processes of each arts discipline (art, music, theatre, dance).

Standard 6 indicator 1 has been met with the exercise within this lesson plan. Students will create a commercial using the materials, techniques and thinking processes of art, music, theater, and dance. They will also learn the basic vocabulary that goes along with these disciplines.

Standard 12: Working alone, or with arts specialist teachers and/or other qualified arts professionals, elementary teachers are able to integrate the arts into the elementary curriculum.

Standard 12 was met as I integrated the arts of theater and art into the lesson.  Students will work together to create a commercial for a town along the famous Route 66.  The students must develop their commercials using components of things that they have learned about theater arts and video production.  They will put all of these components together to display the reasons why visitors would want to come to the town of their choosing.