Lesson Plan for Set Design
This is a lesson I have used successfully not only with Drama Classes but with general literature classes as well.
For drama, we study principles of set design and complete a number of basic activities such as:
create a monochrome color design to convey a given mood or emotional state
create a design made up of lines to convey a given mood or emotional state
create a design of masses to convey a given mood or emotional state
We also examine set designs by
professional artists. The International Theatre Design Archive at http://www.siue.edu/ITDA/y.html
has dozens of examples.
The final project is for the students to select a play and scene and create a
miniature set for this play using the principles of design we
have learned.
The materials are simple - two or
more sheets of simple 81/2 x 11 card stock. One sheet is folded in half and that
becomes the floor and back wall of the "set". The other card stock is
used to create the platforms, flats, set pieces. It works best if colored with
crayons because the students have more control over shading and blending of
colors. I instruct the students on how to keep the base upright by gluing a set
piece to both the floor and back wall. I also have books on paper folding that
show how to make a variety of structures just by folding and cutting. Paper doll
house cut out books have templates for furniture, but it's not hard to do simple
tables, chairs, doors, etc.
The results are very effective and fun to put on the bulletin board. If anyone would like a photo of some of the products my students have created, email me directly and I'll send them a JPEG photo of some of them. B.Bair bbair@ccps.org