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Does My Voice Tell the Story?

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Rebecca Gallant

Tier 2

Lesson Plan

Voice and Movement Exploration Plan

Students will learn to manipulate their voices and bodies to convey diverse emotions and intentions, adding depth to their acting and communication skills.

Understanding vocal and physical expression is crucial for effective communication, both on stage and in everyday life. This lesson empowers students to use their full expressive range.

Audience

7th Grade Small Group

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive exercises and guided practice.

Materials

Small Group Setting, Projector or large screen, Speakers (optional), Speaking Volumes Body Language, and Vocal Variety & Physicality Prompts

Prep

Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Voice and Movement Exploration Plan and all supporting materials, including the Speaking Volumes Body Language slide deck and Vocal Variety & Physicality Prompts worksheet.
  • Ensure projector/screen and speakers (if using for vocal examples) are set up.
  • Print copies of the Vocal Variety & Physicality Prompts worksheet for each student.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Vocal & Physical Check-In

5 minutes

  • Begin with light stretching and vocal warm-ups (e.g., humming, tongue twisters).
  • Ask students to share one emotion they feel today, expressing it only through a sound (no words) and a simple physical gesture. This helps gauge their current expressive range.
  • Transition by explaining that today's lesson will build on this natural expression, making it more intentional and powerful.

Step 2

Introduction: The Power of Expression

10 minutes

  • Use the Speaking Volumes Body Language slide deck to introduce the concepts of vocal variety (pitch, pace, volume, tone) and physical storytelling (posture, gestures, facial expressions).
  • Discuss how voice and body work together to convey meaning beyond just words.
  • Show examples (if available, short video clips of actors demonstrating strong vocal/physical choices).
  • Facilitate a brief discussion: "Why is it important for an actor (or anyone!) to control their voice and body?"

Step 3

Activity: Vocal & Physicality Prompts

20 minutes

  • Distribute the Vocal Variety & Physicality Prompts worksheet.
  • Explain that students will work individually or in pairs to explore different prompts.
  • Guide students through a few prompts together, demonstrating how to use different vocal qualities and physicalities.
  • Allow students time to practice and experiment with the remaining prompts.
  • Circulate and provide individualized feedback, encouraging them to exaggerate and explore.
  • Bring the group back together to share a few examples and discuss challenges/discoveries.

Step 4

Cool-Down & Reflection

10 minutes

  • Lead a brief cool-down activity, such as a vocal 'sigh of relief' and a relaxed stretch.
  • Ask students to reflect on the lesson using an open-response question: "How did exploring vocal variety and physicality change your understanding of how a story is told?" or "What was one new thing you learned about your own expressive abilities today?"
  • Collect the Vocal Variety & Physicality Prompts worksheets or have students share their reflections aloud.
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Slide Deck

Beyond Words: Your Voice & Body Tell a Story

How much can you say without saying a word? More than you think!

Welcome students and introduce the concept of how our voices and bodies tell stories without even saying specific words. Ask them to think about a time they could tell how someone felt just by how they stood or the sound of their voice.

Your Voice: A Superpower

Vocal Variety:

  • Pitch: How high or low your voice is.
  • Pace: How fast or slow you speak.
  • Volume: How loud or soft your voice is.
  • Tone: The emotion or attitude in your voice (happy, sad, angry, surprised, bored, etc.).

Explain that 'vocal variety' isn't just about singing, it's about changing how we speak. Give quick examples of each. For pitch, say 'Hello' in a high voice, then a low voice. For pace, say something very fast, then very slow. For volume, whisper, then speak loudly. For tone, say 'I'm fine' in a happy tone, then a sarcastic tone.

Your Body: The Other Storyteller

Physical Storytelling:

  • Posture: How you hold your body.
  • Gestures: Movements of your hands and arms.
  • Facial Expressions: What your face shows.
  • Movement: How you move across a space.

Now, focus on the body. Ask students to show you 'sad' posture, then 'confident' posture. Discuss how different gestures (e.g., pointing, shrugging) and facial expressions (e.g., raised eyebrows, a frown) communicate. Emphasize that these work with our voices.

The Dynamic Duo: Voice & Body Together

When you put vocal variety and physical storytelling together, you create a powerful performance.

They work hand-in-hand to make your characters believable and your stories compelling.

Reinforce that actors combine both. Give an example: a scared character might speak in a high, fast voice (pitch, pace) while hunched over (posture) and wringing their hands (gestures). Ask students to think of another emotion and how voice and body might work together.

Time to Practice!

Now it's your turn to experiment with your voice and body. Let's see how many stories you can tell!

Transition to the activity. Explain that they will get a chance to try this out themselves with some fun prompts. Encourage them to be brave and experiment!

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Worksheet

Vocal Variety & Physicality Prompts

Instructions: For each scenario below, explore how you can use different vocal qualities (pitch, pace, volume, tone) and physical expressions (posture, gestures, facial expressions) to convey the emotion or intention. Try each one out!

Part 1: Solo Exploration

  1. Greeting a long-lost friend: Imagine you haven't seen them in years! How does your voice sound? How do you move your body?





  2. Whispering a secret: You don't want anyone else to hear. What is your voice like? What do your eyes and body do?





  3. Announcing exciting news: You just won the lottery! How loud is your voice? How fast do you speak? What's your posture?





  4. Giving a warning: Something dangerous is about to happen. What tone is in your voice? How do you hold your body to show urgency?





  5. Comforting a sad friend: You want to show you care. How soft is your voice? What kind of gestures do you make?





  6. Being caught off guard: Someone just surprised you! What sound do you make? What happens to your face and body?





Part 2: Quick Character Challenges

  • The Grumpy Bear: Say the phrase "I don't want any honey today." How does your voice sound? What does your body do?





  • The Sneaky Spy: Whisper the phrase "The code is revealed." How do you convey secrecy with your voice and movements?





  • The Excited Astronaut: Shout the phrase "We've reached the moon!" How does your voice project excitement? How do you show weightlessness?





  • The Wise Old Owl: Speak the phrase "Knowledge is power." How does your voice show wisdom? What kind of deliberate movements do you make?





  • The Timid Mouse: Squeak the phrase "Is anyone there?" How small can your voice be? How do you make yourself seem tiny and afraid?





Part 3: Partner Challenge (Optional)

Work with a partner to create a short scene (1-2 minutes) where you use vocal variety and physicality to tell a story without relying heavily on dialogue. Choose one of the following scenarios:

  1. Lost in a new place: One person is lost and tries to ask for directions without speaking; the other tries to understand and help.

  2. A surprising gift: One person gives a gift, and the other reacts with surprise and gratitude.

  3. An urgent message: One person needs to convey something very important and urgent to the other, but they can only use sounds and gestures.

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