Stories on Stage · Term 3

Becoming Someone Else

Using costumes and voice changes to adopt different character roles and perspectives.

About This Topic

Becoming Someone Else is an exploration of characterization and role-play. In Year 2 Drama, ACARA emphasizes using voice, facial expression, and movement to assume different roles. Students learn that 'acting' isn't just about saying lines; it's about changing how you carry your body and how you use your voice to show a character's age, mood, or status.

This topic encourages empathy as students step into the shoes of characters from different backgrounds or even different species. In an Australian classroom, this might involve role-playing characters from local stories or historical figures. By experimenting with 'costume pieces' (even something as simple as a hat), students find the physical cues that help them stay in character. Active learning strategies like simulations and 'hot seating' are vital here, as they allow students to practice spontaneous responses and deepen their understanding of a character's perspective.

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate how changing vocal pitch and volume alters audience perception of a character's emotions.
• Identify how specific body postures communicate a character's hidden feelings or intentions.
• Design a sequence of non-verbal actions to convey a character's personality and story.
• Explain how simple costume elements, like a hat or scarf, can transform a performer's character.
• Compare the effectiveness of vocal versus physical changes in establishing a character.

Before You Start

Exploring Emotions Through Movement

Why: Students need prior experience expressing feelings physically before they can analyze how posture communicates character secrets.

Using My Voice

Why: Understanding basic vocal expression is necessary to analyze how changing voice alters audience perception.

Key Vocabulary

Character	A person, animal, or imaginary creature in a story or play, with distinct traits and motivations.
Posture	The way a person holds their body, which can reveal their mood, confidence, or secrets.
Vocal Quality	The characteristics of a person's voice, including pitch, volume, and tone, used to express emotion and personality.
Non-verbal Communication	Conveying messages or information without using spoken words, through gestures, facial expressions, and body language.
Perspective	A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Character Wardrobe

Students are given a single accessory (a scarf, a cane, a crown). They must move around the room and interact with others, showing how that one item changes their walk and their voice.

⏱ 20 min·Whole Class

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Think-Pair-Share: Voice Swap

Students are given a simple sentence like 'It is raining.' They practice saying it to a partner as a grumpy giant, a tiny mouse, and a brave explorer, discussing how the meaning changes.

⏱ 15 min·Pairs

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Role Play: Hot Seating

One student sits in the 'hot seat' as a character from a known story. The rest of the class asks them questions about their life, and the student must answer in character using their chosen voice and posture.

⏱ 25 min·Whole Class

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Real-World Connections

Actors in theatre productions use voice training and physical techniques to embody characters, from Shakespearean heroes to modern-day figures, making them believable for the audience.

Voice actors for animated films and video games must create distinct personalities solely through vocal changes, influencing how listeners perceive characters like superheroes or cartoon animals.

Detectives and psychologists study body language and vocal cues to understand people's true feelings and intentions, sometimes analyzing subtle shifts in posture or tone.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Acting is just about wearing a costume.

What to Teach Instead

Students often think the clothes do the work. By doing 'no-prop' role plays, they learn that their voice and body are their most important tools for making an audience believe they are someone else.

Common Misconception

You have to be funny to be a good actor.

What to Teach Instead

Children often lean toward comedy. Peer feedback sessions can help them appreciate 'serious' or 'quiet' character choices, showing that drama covers a wide range of human emotions.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Ask students to stand in a neutral pose. Then, instruct them to adopt a posture that shows they are hiding a secret. Observe and note which students effectively use their bodies to communicate this idea.

Discussion Prompt

Present students with a simple scenario, like 'a character who is very excited but trying to be quiet.' Ask: 'How would you change your voice? How would you change your body? What costume piece might help?' Facilitate a class discussion on their ideas.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a card with a character trait (e.g., shy, brave, grumpy). Ask them to draw a simple picture showing a posture that represents this trait and write one sentence explaining why they chose it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I help shy students with role play?

Start with whole-group activities where everyone is moving at once, so no one feels 'watched.' Using masks or simple puppets can also provide a 'shield' that helps shy students feel more comfortable taking on a new persona.

What are the four 'Drama' tools for Year 2?

The four main tools are Voice (how we speak), Movement (how we move), Facial Expression (how our face looks), and Gesture (how we use our hands/arms).

Why is student-centered role play better than a scripted play?

Scripted plays at this age often lead to wooden delivery and memorization stress. Student-centered role play and improvisation encourage 'thinking on your feet' and a deeper emotional connection to the character, which aligns better with ACARA's focus on creative expression.

How can I use drama to teach empathy?

By asking students to role-play a character in a difficult situation (like being the 'new kid' at school), they physically and emotionally experience that perspective. This 'lived' experience is much more powerful than just talking about kindness.