Students
will read a selection containing violent action between two characters and
analyze the purpose of the author by examining apparent messages (SCS 4.01)
Students will re-create the violent action without showing violence,
illustrating that violence in society is not needed to make a point.
Materials
Needed:
"Amigo
Brothers" by Piri Thomas
Scene from Macbeth for comparison
Teacher
will explain how to create non-violent violence and model showing image of a
see-saw. Teacher will create pairs of students to work together to use inventive
ways to show violence without touching or violent action (i.e. punching)
Instructional
Strategy:
Students
will work in pairs. They must be creative and determine a way to show a violent
action without actual violence. Students will be given an excerpt of the story
read previously and a scene from Macbeth which contains fight scenes.
Student pairs must mimic the action between two characters, but cannot touch
each other. Pairs will then present their non-violent scenes in front of the
class.
Concluding
Activity:
Students
will vote for the most effective scene portraying violence without violent
action. Class will discuss violence in media (TV, movies, video games, etc.) and
possible ways to show violence without violent actions. This will tie back to
the humanity issue addressed regularly in class.
Favorite Examples:
*Two
students fighting for TV control with remotes by switching channels back and
forth until one gives up
*Two students speak the following lines to each
other as Macbeth and Macduff until one falls dead: "I live" "You
die" *Two students have drinking contest until one slumps over (they said
it was high caffeine!)
*Two
students began doing a "push-up" race to see who went faster; it ended
when one gave up.