B. Drama / D. Visual Arts · Drama and Visual ArtsDrama: Listening and Responding in Role
B1.2 B1.3 B2.2About 30 minutes
Learning goals- I can listen to another character and answer them in role.
- I can show how two characters feel about each other (their relationship).
- I can answer questions in the hot seat as a character.
- I can help plan a drama by building on my own and other people's ideas, in and out of role.
Words to know
relationship
How two characters are connected and how they feel about each other, like best friends, a grandparent and grandchild, or two rivals.
respond
To answer or react to what someone says or does.
in role
Pretending to be the character.
out of role
Being yourself again, for example to plan or talk about the drama.
hot seat
A drama game where one person sits in a chair as a character and answers questions in role.
A drama is a conversation
Imagine two actors on stage. One says, "Hurry, the bus is coming!" The other actor just stands there and says, "I like pancakes."
That's funny, but it doesn't make a good story. The second actor didn't listen!
In drama, characters listen to each other and respond. That's how a story grows.
An empty stage is waiting for actors. A drama only comes alive when the characters on it listen to each other and respond. AI-generated imageWhat is a relationship?
A relationship is how two characters are connected, and how they feel about each other.
The relationship changes how characters talk and act. You speak differently to your best friend than to the principal, right?
| Relationship | How they might talk and act |
|---|
| best friends | relaxed, laughing, sitting close, sharing |
| grandparent and grandchild | gentle, caring, maybe holding hands, telling stories |
| shopkeeper and customer | polite: "Can I help you?" "Yes, please." |
| coach and player | coach encourages; player listens and tries hard |
| two rivals in a race | each wants to win, a bit bossy or show-offy, standing apart |
Listen, then respond in role
When another character speaks to you:
- Listen to the words and watch their face and body.
- Think like your character: "How does my character feel about this person?"
- Respond in role, with words and actions that fit.
Worked exampleExample: At the skating rink
Mom plays a child who just fell on the ice. Kai plays the child's best friend.
- Mom (in role, rubbing her knee): "Ouch! I fell. Everyone saw me!"
- Kai listens: his friend is hurt and embarrassed.
- Kai thinks: "We are best friends. I want to help."
- Kai responds in role, kneeling down and holding out a hand: "Are you okay? I fall all the time too! Hold my hand and we'll skate together."
Kai listened and responded in role. His kind words and helping hand showed a best friend relationship.
The hot seat
In the hot seat game, one actor sits in a chair in role. Everyone else asks the character questions. The actor answers as the character would.
The hot seat helps us learn what a character thinks and feels and how they feel about the other characters.
Worked exampleExample: The wolf in the hot seat
Dad sits in the hot seat as the Big Bad Wolf from The Three Little Pigs. Ava asks questions.
- Ava: "Why did you blow down the houses?"
- Wolf: "I was hungry! And those pigs never shared their dinner."
- Ava: "How do you feel about the third pig?"
- Wolf: "Hmph! That pig is too clever. I'm grumpy that I couldn't blow down the brick house."
- Ava: "What will you do now?"
- Wolf: "Maybe... I'll try being nice and knock politely."
In the hot seat, the wolf answered in role. We learned his point of view and his relationship with the pigs (he is grumpy that the third pig was too clever for him).
Planning together, in and out of role
Good drama is teamwork. You can share ideas in two ways:
- In role: add an idea while you are acting. "Yes, and look, there's a map in this old chest!"
- Out of role: stop and plan. "Let's pretend the map leads to a cave. Then we get lost."
Listen to your partner's idea and build on it. You can also build on your own idea from before.
Helpful planning words
- "Yes, and..." (add to an idea)
- "What if..." (suggest something new)
- "Let's pretend..." (plan out of role)
- "I like your idea. Maybe we could also..."
Just for funKnock, knock.
Who's there?
Interrupting actor.
Interrupting act...
I LIKE PANCAKES!
(And that's why good actors listen before they respond!)
Hands-on activityThe pretend phone call
You need: two pretend phones (a banana, a block or a TV remote works!).
- Choose a relationship, like grandparent and grandchild, two best friends, or a pizza shop and a customer.
- Out of role, plan: Who is calling? Why?
- "Ring ring!" Start the call in role. Listen to what the other person says, then respond in role.
- Try to keep the call going for 1 minute by building on each other's ideas.
- Switch roles and try a new relationship.
Bonus: put a grown-up in the hot seat as a story character and ask them three questions.
Your turn
1What is a relationship in drama?
How two characters are connected and how they feel about each other.
2Your grown-up says in role as a customer: "I'd like a hot chocolate, please." Respond in role as the café worker.
Look for a response that fits: "Sure! Would you like whipped cream on top?" The child listened and stayed in role.
3How would two best friends stand and talk together? Show it.
Look for: standing close, relaxed, smiling or laughing, friendly voices.
4What happens in the hot seat?
One person sits in a chair as a character and answers questions in role.
5What are the two words that help you add to someone's idea?
6Are you in role or out of role when you say, "Let's pretend the boat has a hole"?
Out of role. You are planning as yourself.
7Why is listening important in drama?
Because you need to know what the other character said so you can respond and keep the story going.
More practice: warm-up
To answer or react to what someone says or does.
2Say "Good morning" to a king (be polite!).
Look for: a polite, careful voice, maybe a bow: "Good morning, Your Majesty."
3Say "Good morning" to your best friend.
Look for: a relaxed, happy, friendly voice, maybe a wave or high five.
4True or false: In drama, it is good to ignore what your partner says.
False. Listen and respond so the story grows.
5Name one relationship between two characters.
Examples: best friends, brother and sister, teacher and student, shopkeeper and customer.
More practice: on your own
1In role, your grown-up (a little rabbit) says: "I'm scared of the dark forest." You are the rabbit's big sister. Respond in role.
Example: "Don't worry, I'll hold your paw. Let's walk together and sing a song." Look for a caring response that fits the big sister relationship.
2Put Goldilocks in the hot seat. Write two questions you would ask her.
Examples: "Why did you go into the bears' house?" "How did you feel when the bears woke you up?" Look for questions about her feelings, reasons or relationship with the bears.
3Two characters are rivals in a race. How might their voices and bodies show this?
Example: they stand apart, glare at each other, and speak in a bossy, show-off way: "I'm going to beat you!" They show they both want to win.
4Your partner says in role: "Oh no! The canoe is drifting away!" Respond with "Yes, and..."
Example: "Yes, and I can grab the rope! Help me pull!" Look for adding a new idea that fits.
5How does the hot seat help you understand a character?
You hear the character explain their thoughts and feelings and how they feel about other characters, so you learn their point of view and relationships.
Challenge
1Act the same sentence, "You took my mitten," two ways: first between best friends joking, then between two characters who are upset with each other. What changed?
Joking friends: a playful voice, smiling, maybe laughing. Upset characters: a sharp or hurt voice, frowning, standing apart. The relationship changed the voice, face and body even though the words were the same.
2Plan out of role with a grown-up: a story where two neighbours meet when a cat gets stuck in a tree. Each of you adds one idea, three times. Then act it.
Look for: taking turns adding ideas ("What if...", "Yes, and..."), building on the other person's idea and not blocking it, then acting it in role.
3In the hot seat, the troll says: "I only wanted someone to visit me." How does that change how we feel about the troll?
It shows the troll might be lonely, not just mean. We might feel sorry for him. The hot seat helped us see his point of view.
Quiz
1. What is a relationship in drama?
2. Your partner says in role, "I'm hungry!" What is the best response in role?
3. In the hot seat, the actor ___.
4. Which words help you build on a partner's idea?
5. You say, "Let's pretend the house is haunted." Are you in role or out of role?
6. How might a grandparent and grandchild act together?
Big idea: The drama element relationship in Grade 2 is about listening and responding in role to other characters. Children also plan and shape a drama by building on their own and others' ideas, in and out of role, with support (B1.3).
How to help:
- Play pretend phone calls and shop games where your child must listen and answer in role.
- Try the hot seat with characters from bedtime stories. Take turns being in the seat.
- Model "Yes, and..." during play, and praise your child when they build on an idea.
Common difficulties:
- Not listening ("blocking"). Pause and ask: "What did my character just say? How will yours answer?"
- Hot seat answers like "I don't know." Help with a prompt: "Were you happy or angry when that happened?"
- Taking over the story. Use a turn rule: each person adds one idea, then the other.