Silent Movies Scheme of Work
(ages 11-12)
Overview
This six-lesson scheme explores silent movie theatre techniques, focusing on mime, exaggerated body language, facial expression and slapstick comedy. Lessons use musical clips and a classic film extract to model atmosphere and character before students devise and perform their own silent scenes, culminating in filmed mini-movies for assessment. Practical group work, paired tasks and class discussion build skills in physical storytelling and comic timing.
What Students Will Learn
Across the unit students practise mime, exaggerated physicality and facial expression to create silent-era characters and comic situations. They learn how music and captioning (intertitles) shape mood and meaning, analyse a classic film extract, and apply these techniques in devised group and paired performances that are filmed for assessment.
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- 6 detailed lesson plansA complete, practical teaching sequence for the unit.
- Lesson-by-lesson activity guidanceUse the unit structure, skills focus and classroom tasks without starting from scratch.
- Linked classroom resourcesMusic, Resources, Video are included where they support the lesson sequence.
Week 1: Silent Comedy
Introduces how exaggeration and mime create humour in silent comedy. Students practise group comedy routines and take part in the class activity 'Magnetic Chair' to apply mime and physical exaggeration.
Week 2: Music and Captions
Explores how silent-movie music conveys atmosphere and emotion. From a piece of music students devise and perform a short scene complete with a caption (intertitle) to link action and mood.
Resources IncludeMusicThe Chase FXTroubleResourcesWater Droplets on the RiverWeek 3: The Eviction Blues
Students create and sustain a silent-movie character using mime and exaggeration from a given synopsis. Groups devise a rescue scene using stock characters to build narrative and comic action.
Resources IncludeResourcesThe Eviction BluesWeek 4: Charlie Chaplin
Class analyses an extract of Chaplin's 'The Kid' to identify comedic techniques and tone. Pairs use the two characters to devise a new scenario that balances humour and sadness.
Resources IncludeVideoChaplin - The KidWeek 5: Mini Movie
Students develop an assessment piece based on a piece of silent-movie music. They create a short movie applying the unit's mime, physical comedy and captioning techniques.
Resources IncludeMusicKeystone DelugeWeek 6: Assessment
Performance of students' mini-movies, with selected sequences filmed and played back. The lesson focuses on presenting devised work and using recorded playback as part of the assessment process.
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