Light the Fire Within | Curriculum | Fine Arts - Drama

Complex Thinking uses creative, critical problem-solving, decision-making, and innovative thinking processes; puts information together in new and unique ways; balances reason and emotion in decision making; considers new ideas and various perspectives to broaden insight and increase understanding.

Effective Communication successfully interacts with others using a variety of mediums; expresses ideas, feelings, and beliefs aesthetically; evaluates the effectiveness of communication; receives and understands ideas communicated through a variety of modes; adapts and adjusts communication to suit the needs of the intended audience.

Collaboration works effectively with others to identify and achieve specified results; values differences and similarities among groups members; respects cultural and ethnic differences and builds on them in positive ways; treats others with compassion; resolves conflicts positively.

Responsible Citizenship acknowledges that all people have innate worth; demonstrates respect for human dignity, needs, and rights; works towards improvement in society.

Learning Outcomes
Students Will:

	Learn and experience how one of the best opportunities of the Olympic games is building relationships of respect, civility, and contribution
	Collaborate together by creating and performing a dramatic presentation
	Explore how men of global science have historically struggled to inspire and promote mutual respect, civility, and peace in the world

Activity:

60 minutes
Gather information about respect, civility and world peace shown in general and in the Olympics.

Gather information about the life and times of Galileo and Einstein and the global unrest and conflict caused by their scientific revelations.

Gather information about global tensions in the world today.

O'Neill, Cecily. Drama Worlds: A Framework for Process Drama. (Heinemann, 1995)

Spolin, Viola. Theatre Games for the Classroom. (Northwestern University Press, 1987.)

Identify web sites dedicated to Galileo and Einstein:

Examples: The Galileo Project:
http://es.rice.edu/ES/humsoc/Galileo/
Albert Einstein Homepage:
http://www.humboldt1.com/~gralsto/einstein/einstein.html

Explore the meaning of respect, civility, peace, and the Olympic games.

Read the following quote:

"Many of the conflicts destructive to peace emerge from two main sources. One is our inability to deal with anger positively, and the other is our inability to build good relationships, meaningful relationships. If we could learn these two things, we would be able to reduce violence in human society by as much as 90 percent."
Reflections of Peace, by Arun Gandhi

Discuss the quote and ask students how they think it relates to the Olympic Games. Discuss ways in which the quote relates to the situation of the world at the present time.

Ask students to bring examples of current events describing troublesome global conflicts, which threaten peace to the classroom. Personally research several of the most troublesome conflicts to share with students and use as examples.

Research and discuss how the scientific discoveries of both Galileo and Einstein caused global unrest and conflict in the world.

Divide students into groups of three. Ask students to plan and improvise a "Meeting of Minds" summit where Galileo and Einstein are invited by a moderator to discuss the global unrest caused by their discoveries and theories. Invite them to contribute recommendations for resolving global problems today after hearing what prevents world peace today.

Ask students to add character specific dialogue and physical attributes for both Galileo and Einstein.

Mix up the groups of three and play each scene again without rehearsing.

Assessment

Students will:

	Define civility, respect, and peace
	Discuss how and why history's most peaceful minded and brilliant scientists could create global unrest
	Reflect on how the goals and politics of today's Olympic Games might help or hinder world peace

Extensions

Take what students have learned about respect, civility and peace through music, and plan how to improve the world for family, friends, or someone who's in need.

Explore other ideas that would work within the "Meeting of the Minds" concept through improvisation.

Extend an interest in how other people have improved respect, civility, and peace through further drama explorations and playwriting.