Lesson 2 Ж Second and Third Class
Me and the Sea: Our Environment, Our Home
ROCKPOOL STORY DICE DRAMA ACTIVITY
In this exercise the students will create and act out a mini-drama, based on the disappearance of
one of the rockpool creatures by some human activity. The characters and “who-dun-it” style
storylines will be drawn from a set of numbered story cards, with the possibility of using a role of
the dice to determine which card is acted out. Simple puppets are supplied, along with materials
for the students to make their own simple puppets, if desired.
Objective: The students will work in groups to explore a human-made event or action that has resulted in the disruption of the balance of life in the rockpool, and to work together to think about
a possible solution. Through the dramatic interpretation of cause and effect, the students will be
able to explore what they have learned about human impacts along the coastline, apply their knowledge to how it might affect one particular creature, and work together to discuss and act out a
possible solution.
Time:
40-50 minutes, or longer, depending on level of preparation, detail of storyline,
creative and research input.
Materials:

6 different “WHO is in trouble?” cards (Prawn, Hermit Crab, Algae, Anemone, Flatfish,
Starfish)

6 different “WHAT happened?” story cards (Overfishing, Dirty Water, Home is Destroyed, Fertiliser Pollution, Plastic Pollution, New Predator)

Purple and Blue Dice

Puppets and/or puppet making materials

Stage Props
Method:
1)
Divide into suitable sized groups. To help you to identify the right number of students per
group, roles within the groups for the acting out of the drama could include (a) the main
“WHO is in trouble” rockpool creature, (b) another 2-3 of his friends or neighbours, (c) the
“human” or role to represent the “WHAT happened” issue, (d) a narrator, and (e) a set/props
designer and coordinator. The number of puppets available might restrict the number of different roles, although there is a bag of socks and gloves included in the kit for the students
to improvise their own puppets!
2)
Give each group a “WHO is in trouble” card and a “WHAT happened” card OR allow them to
role the purple (WHO) and blue (WHAT) dice to pick the cards themselves.
3)
Each card has two sides. One side gives some basic information, and the other side gives
some tips on how to make a play using that particular WHO or WHAT. Give the students
time to read the cards and ask questions.
4)
Support them in working together to create a mini-drama. This is an ideal activity in which to
involve the sixth class KEEPERS of the BLUE MARBLE. This activity can be a part a larger
exploration of drama as part of the Arts Education curriculum.
Encourage inclusion of the different components of a dramatic play, as you see fit, including:
i) the introduction- exposing the day-to-day life of the creatures in the rock pool, showing
something of how they live and the environment that they live in.
ii) the action—introduce the “WHAT HAPPENED” problem! Use some props to help demonstrate the problem of pollution, fishing, etc. Show how the creatures are disturbed.
iii) the climax—what happens as a result of the problem? Remember “WHO is in trouble”,
show how they have been affected—did they escape? Get caught? Die?
iv) the resolution—here the aspect of how people can positively effect the marine environment comes in. Invite them to use a character (could be a puppet, or they could use their own
bodies or hands) to represent the solution. Are new laws made? Do people around the world
start speaking up against pollution? Is a beach clean-up or some other event organized?
There are a couple of ways to approach this activity to help keep the flow of the story clear. Oneway is to have one student (or the teacher) take the role of the one of the following: (suggestions)
(i) Storyteller or Narrator (ii) News Presenter (iii) Barrister as if it was a court case. This narrator helps to connect the story and the events by giving a simple structure to the story line.
For example:
‘This is the story of how one community faced impending disaster, survival and finally hope.’
‘Let’s take a look at this community before the disaster.’
‘Then little by little strange things started to happen, unusual things, dangerous things… Watch!
Now we see what happened, this can be a very dramatic moment!
‘What happened next? How did they survive? What actions did they need to do to protect
themselves? Let’s watch and listen.’
The actors act out how the community comes together to protect their homes and families.
‘This could have been a sad story but instead it is a message to others of how important it is to
work together to take care of our precious Earth. ‘
5)
The students can act out their dramas. Some direction might be required to ensure that they
understand other necessary components of acting out a play such as speaking loudly and
clearly and ensuring that their bodies don’t block the view of the audience.
6)
Discuss! Ideally allow time to discuss each play as a class. What was happening? Who was
affected? How was the problem solved?
Guide for teachers:
This activity works really well as a vehicle for reflection, communication and expression, but it is strongly recommended that sufficient time has been allowed for the teaching portion of the “Me and
the Sea: Our Environment, Our Home” lesson, so that the students
have a good understanding of both the rockpool habitat and the
various potential man-made problems. In addition, the lesson and
this activity could be drawn out over a much longer time period. If
this is desired, suggestions for covering scientific aspects of the
curriculum would include allowing for an extended period for research on the WHO and WHAT topic cards (or other characters and
topics of your/their choosing), prior to putting the drama together.
To contribute to arts education aspects the students could make
their own puppets and props.