COMPONENT: Interaction
Grade Levels: All (for k-2, use as a birthday or tea party)
Subject Areas: Language arts, social studies, science, math.
Grouping Configuration: Small Groups
Approximate Time Involved: 1-2 periods for planning and student practice.
Materials: Library and/or internet resources for research.
Description:
The idea for this activity came from a final exam that one of the
authors (Mary Ellen) had when she was a senior in high school way (back in the
early ´60´s)! The course, English Literature, was taught by an extraordinary
teacher, Mary McNally, and for the semester exam she asked that we response to
the following prompt:
“Suppose you could have a dinner party for eight British authors or
poets that we have studied. Who would you invite? Why would you select them?
What would be the seating order of the guests at your table and why would you
place them in that order? What do you think the guests would talk about during
dinner? Include specific references to the authors’ lives and works in your
response.”
The purpose of Dinner Party is for students to assume the persona of
characters in novels or short stories, authors or poets, historical figures,
scientists, politicians, or military leaders. Alexander the Great might be
engaged in conversation with Abby Hoffman, while General George Patton argues
the finer points of military strategy with Jane Fonda. Although scripts can be
written improvisation is more interesting and fun. During each Dinner Party,
students must include specific content for the characters and respond in
character to each other as realistically and accurately as possible. It is
important that knowledge of people’s lives, accomplishment, flaws, and works be
used to inform the performance.
Young students may have a birthday or tea party and include their
favorite characters from stories or nursery rhymes. If you model how a
character might act at a party prior to students choosing “guests,” ELs are
more likely to understand the purpose of the activity.
