Fine Arts · Class 1 · Pretend Play and Simple Acting · Term 2

Using Costumes and Props in Play

Students will explore the roles of sets, props, and costumes in enhancing a theatrical production, learning basic design principles and practical construction techniques.

• CBSE Learning Outcomes
• NCERT: Theatre - Stagecraft and Design - Class 7

About This Topic

Students in Class 1 explore the roles of sets, props, and costumes in making theatrical play more vivid and engaging. They learn how these elements help tell stories better, using basic design principles like selecting appropriate colours and shapes. Practical construction techniques involve everyday materials such as old newspapers, cloth scraps, cardboard boxes, and string. Guided by key questions, such as 'What costume would you wear to pretend to be a doctor?', 'How does wearing a hat or scarf change how you feel in a story?', and 'What simple prop could help you tell a story about cooking?', children discover the magic of transformation.

This topic is part of the Pretend Play and Simple Acting unit in the CBSE Fine Arts curriculum, aligning with NCERT standards on theatre stagecraft and design. It integrates creativity from visual arts with performance skills from drama, fostering imagination, spatial awareness, fine motor coordination, and verbal expression. Early exposure builds a strong foundation for appreciating and participating in cultural performances.

Hands-on activities are ideal for this topic. When students design, construct, and use their own costumes, props, and simple sets in group plays, they grasp concepts through direct experience. This active learning boosts confidence, encourages peer feedback, and makes learning joyful and memorable.

Key Questions

1. What costume would you wear to pretend to be a doctor?
2. How does wearing a hat or scarf change how you feel in a story?
3. What simple prop could help you tell a story about cooking?

Learning Objectives

• Design a simple costume using fabric scraps and paper for a chosen character.
• Construct a basic prop, such as a pretend sword or cooking pot, using cardboard and string.
• Demonstrate how a costume or prop can change a character's personality during a short skit.
• Identify at least two ways sets, props, or costumes contribute to a play's story.
• Classify common objects as either costumes, props, or set pieces.

Before You Start

Pretend Play and Imagination

Why: Students need to be comfortable with imaginative play to effectively explore character and storytelling through costumes and props.

Basic Shapes and Colours

Why: Understanding fundamental design elements like shapes and colours is necessary for making simple costume and prop design choices.

Key Vocabulary

Costume	Clothing worn by an actor to help portray a character in a play or performance.
Prop	An object used by an actor on stage that is not part of the set or costume, such as a book or a telephone.
Set	The scenery and furnishings on a stage that create the environment for a play.
Character	A person or animal represented in a story, play, or movie.
Stagecraft	The art and technique of designing and executing stage settings, including costumes, props, and scenery.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Costumes and props must be store-bought to look real.

What to Teach Instead

Homemade items using household scraps work equally well and encourage creativity. Group construction sessions let students compare designs and see simple props succeed in plays, helping them value resourcefulness over perfection.

Common Misconception

Wearing a costume does not change how you act in a story.

What to Teach Instead

Trying costumes in paired role-plays reveals shifts in movement and voice. Peer discussions after acting clarify this, as children share personal experiences, making the connection tangible.

Common Misconception

Sets are unnecessary for small classroom plays.

What to Teach Instead

Even basic backdrops set the scene effectively. Whole-class relay building shows quick impact, with students noting how it helps everyone imagine the story world better during performances.

Active Learning Ideas

Small Groups: Prop-Making Workshop

Gather recyclables like cardboard tubes and bottle caps. In small groups, students pick a prop from a story, such as a cooking spoon, sketch a quick design, then build it with glue, tape, and markers. Groups test props in a 2-minute role-play and share what works best.

45 min·Small Groups

Pairs: Quick Costume Design

Pairs choose a character like a doctor from key questions. Using scarves, paper hats, and string, they assemble a costume. Partners wear it alternately, act a scene, and discuss how it changes their feelings and actions.

30 min·Pairs

Whole Class: Simple Set Relay

Divide class into four teams with large chart paper as backdrop. Teams take turns adding one set element, like trees from green paper or a house from boxes. Complete the set, then perform a short class story using it.

40 min·Whole Class

Individual: Personal Prop Sketch

Each student draws their favourite prop for a story, labels colours and materials needed. Share sketches in a circle, then select one class favourite to build together. This builds from personal ideas to group work.

25 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• The National School of Drama in Delhi trains actors and designers who create elaborate costumes and sets for theatrical productions, influencing how audiences perceive characters and stories.
• Film costume designers, like those working on Bollywood movies such as 'Padmaavat', research historical periods and cultural contexts to design authentic costumes that help tell the story and define characters.
• Local community theatre groups often use recycled materials and simple designs to create effective props and costumes on a limited budget, making theatre accessible.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

During a play activity, ask students: 'Show me the prop that tells me you are a chef.' Or, 'Point to the costume piece that shows you are a king.' Observe if students can correctly identify and use the items.

Discussion Prompt

After students have created a prop or costume, ask: 'How does this item help you pretend to be someone else?' 'What story does this prop help you tell?' Record student responses to gauge their understanding of the item's function.

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a drawing of a character. Ask them to draw one prop or costume item that would help tell a story about that character. Below the drawing, they should write one word describing the character (e.g., brave, happy, tired).

Frequently Asked Questions

What everyday materials work best for Class 1 costumes and props?

Cloth scraps, old newspapers, cardboard boxes, string, and bottle caps are perfect for safe, accessible construction. These foster fine motor skills through cutting, gluing, and tying. Students realise sustainability by reusing items, aligning with CBSE emphasis on creative resource use, and props last for multiple plays.

How can active learning help students understand costumes and props?

Active learning engages Class 1 children by letting them design, make, and wear costumes and props right away in role-plays. This hands-on cycle turns abstract ideas into real transformations, corrects misconceptions through trial, and builds teamwork via group sharing. Teachers see increased confidence and joy, with better retention of design principles.

How to link costumes and props to storytelling in Fine Arts?

Use key questions to start: choose props for cooking stories or costumes for doctors. After making, integrate into short skits where children narrate while acting. This connects visual design to language expression, enhancing imagination and making theatre holistic as per NCERT guidelines.

What are common challenges in teaching stagecraft to young learners?

Young students may think fancy materials are needed or overlook sets' role. Address with simple demos using recyclables and immediate play tests. Structured sharing circles help verbalise changes, overcoming shyness and building appreciation for basic stagecraft in CBSE drama units.