Building a World: Setting the Scene

Active learning works well for this topic because young students learn best when they use their bodies and imaginations to shape the world around them. Handling objects and creating sounds physically connects abstract ideas to concrete experiences, making the learning stick.

• Grade 1
• The Arts
• 3 activities
• 20 min–40 min

Learning Objectives

1. Identify simple objects that can represent different settings in a dramatic play scenario.
2. Create a setting for a play using at least two imaginary props and one sound effect.
3. Demonstrate how a change in setting affects a character's actions or dialogue.
4. Explain the importance of setting for establishing the mood and context of a story.

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 30 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Prop Transformation

Give each small group one object (e.g., a hula hoop or a scarf). They must come up with three different ways to use it as a setting element (e.g., a portal, a pond, a steering wheel) and show the class.

Prepare & details

How can we pretend this chair is a spaceship? What would we say or do?

Facilitation Tip: During Prop Transformation, circulate and remind students to exaggerate their movements so the class can clearly see the imagined object or setting.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Simulation Game

⏱ 20 min·Whole Class

Simulation Game: Soundscape Creation

The class works together to create the 'sounds' of a specific Canadian setting, like a busy Toronto street or a quiet Northern forest. They use their voices and hands to build layers of sound that set the mood.

Prepare & details

What sounds would help us know the story is happening in a jungle?

Facilitation Tip: For Soundscape Creation, start with short 20-second intervals so students focus on one sound at a time before layering.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Gallery Walk

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Imaginary Worlds

Groups 'build' a scene using chairs and desks to represent a specific place (e.g., a space station). Other students walk through the 'set' and must guess where they are based on the layout and the 'actors' in it.

Prepare & details

Why does it matter where our story takes place?

Facilitation Tip: During Gallery Walk, give each student a sticky note to jot one compliment or question for peers about their imaginary world.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should model how to use small, simple objects to represent grand ideas, like turning a scarf into a magic carpet. Avoid using elaborate props, as the goal is to build creativity with what students have. Research shows that young children learn setting best through kinesthetic and auditory experiences, so emphasize movement and sound over visuals alone.

What to Expect

Students will show they understand setting by using their bodies, voices, and simple objects to create a believable environment. They will demonstrate how the setting influences their actions and dialogue, making clear choices about how characters behave in different worlds.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Collaborative Investigation: Prop Transformation, watch for students who hold objects passively or treat them as real items.

What to Teach Instead

Prompt students to name the object and describe what it is pretending to be, then model exaggerated movements to show how the object transforms into something new.

Common Misconception

During Soundscape Creation, watch for students who rely only on their voices or who create sounds that don’t match the setting.

What to Teach Instead

Have students pair up and take turns mimicking each other’s sounds to ensure the soundscape is cohesive and clearly communicates the environment.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After Collaborative Investigation: Prop Transformation, ask students to hold up their object and say what it represents. Then, have them make one sound that matches their setting. Observe if they can clearly communicate their imagined world.

Discussion Prompt

During Soundscape Creation, present the scenario: 'Imagine you are in a very cold, snowy place. What would you say or do differently than if you were on a hot, sunny beach?' Facilitate a brief discussion, guiding students to connect actions and dialogue to the setting.

Exit Ticket

After Gallery Walk: Imaginary Worlds, give each student a card with a picture of a simple object (e.g., a box, a scarf, a stick). Ask them to write or draw one sentence explaining what their object could be in a play and what kind of place it might be used in.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask students to create a setting using only sounds, no movement or props, and have peers guess the place and time of day.
• Scaffolding: Provide picture cards of settings (e.g., jungle, castle) and have students mime actions that fit the environment before adding sounds.
• Deeper: Introduce a 'problem scenario' in the setting (e.g., 'A storm is coming!') and ask students to show how their character reacts using only the environment they've built.

Key Vocabulary

Setting	The place or time where a story happens. It helps us imagine where the characters are and what the atmosphere is like.
Prop	An object used in a play to help tell the story. In Grade 1, props can be real objects or things we pretend are real.
Imagination	The ability to form new ideas, images, or concepts that are not present to the senses. We use imagination to pretend a chair is a spaceship.
Atmosphere	The feeling or mood of a place. A spooky forest has a different atmosphere than a sunny beach.