Activity 2: Fathers and Sons
 
 
  Objectives

This activity will help you to think about how a narrator can be used to give pace and structure to a piece of drama. You will read "The Prodigal Son" and think about the story from the point of view of each of the characters. You will then divide the story into three scenes (each one introduced by your narrator) and create a storyboard for each section. In groups, you will have the opportunity to discuss, evaluate and perform some of the storyboards created by your class, during the plenary session.
 
 
  Outcomes

By working step by step through the main activities you will:
 
 
complete a short storyboard which shows the feelings and reactions of each character at key points in the narrative
 
 
create a storyboard version of "The Prodigal Son".
 
 
  Resources

To complete the activities you will need access to:
 
 
Kar2ouche Rehearsal Room Content Library
 
 


  Activities
 
 
  Introduction
 
 
  1. Read and/or listen to the story of "The Prodigal Son" in the text/audio window and then open the Family View storyboard. You will find extracts from the story from the son, father and brother’s points of view. Think about the feelings and thoughts of the characters at these points in the story and complete the empty thought bubbles. Don’t forget to save your work before you continue with this activity.
 
 
To open the Family View storyboard
 
 


  Development
 
 
  2. Now open the Prodigal Son storyboard and type your name in the space provided on the title frame. Your first task is to decide which sections of the story you are going to storyboard, and which sections you will give to the narrator. Before you start, think about the points below.
 
 
Look for aspects of the story that will appeal to an audience and use these for your storyboard sections. For example, the father and son’s reunion, and the conflict between the father and elder brother have some real dramatic potential.
 
Don’t be afraid to expand aspects of the story. For example, the younger son’s "wild living" in the "distant country" could make a good scene for your storyboard.
 


  Use the narrator to move the story along at points where your audience might begin to lose interest.
 
 
To open the Prodigal Son storyboard
 
 
  3. Copy and paste the narrator’s lines into the three shaded frames labelled Scene 1, Scene 2 and Scene 3.
 
 
  4. Now create your storyboard in the three groups of frames provided. You can use the dialogue as it is in the text, or change it into more modern English if you prefer. Make the location of each scene clear using no more than five props for each group of storyboard frames.
 
 
  5. Remember to save your work in your user area when you have finished your storyboard.
 
 


  Plenary
 
 
  6. You will have the opportunity to look at some of the storyboards your class has produced and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. You should discuss the aspects that you like first, and then offer clear and positive suggestions for ways in which the work could be improved.
 
 
  7. In groups, you will prepare performances based on the storyboards you have discussed in class. Keep in mind the suggestions that have been made during your discussion time, and make any changes that you think will improve your work.
 
 


  Extension/Homework
 
 
  8. Write a brief evaluation of the storyboard you created. In your final paragraph, explain the changes you would like to make to it, in the light of the points made during the plenary. It does not matter if your storyboard was not one of the ones chosen for discussion – just pick up on points from the discussion that you can apply to your work.
 
 
  9. If you have access to Kar2ouche out of class time, you could produce a new version of your storyboard, which includes the improvements you suggest in your evaluation.
 
 




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