Illinois Learning Standards
Stage C - Fine Arts—Drama
Students who meet the standard understand the sensory
elements, organizational principles, and expressive qualities
of the arts.
- Explain the difference between performance and audience
- Explain how movement and sound are used in drama/theater
to communicate ideas and characters.
- Suggest alternative dialogue and/or actions to complete
or change a story.
- Identify the plot, character, setting, problem/resolution,
and message of a drama.
- Identify emotions communicated through body language choices.
Students who meet the standard understand the similarities,
distinctions, and connections in and among the arts.
- Compare sensory elements, organizational principles, and
expressive qualities shared among several art forms that
express a similar idea (e.g. beginning, middle, and end
in music, dance, and drama).
- Compare the use of sound, movement, action, or visual
images to express similar ideas (e.g., subject matter such
as night, ocean; emotions/moods such as sad, scary).
Students who meet the standard understand processes,
traditional tools, and modern technologies used in the arts.
- Connect the three primary tools (i.e., mind, body, voice)
to skills learned.
- Compare collaboration strategies used to plan a drama.
- Explain why actors use practicing/rehearsing techniques
to prepare a drama.
- Interact with other characters using safe and appropriate
movement and dialogue in an improvised and/or practiced/rehearsed
Students who meet the standard can apply skills
and knowledge necessary to create and perform in one or more
of the arts.
- Demonstrate movement, use of space, vocal sounds, and
spoken text in an individual and group drama.
- Demonstrate the skills of listening, observing, and concentrating.
- Demonstrate decision-making and problem-solving techniques
to create a drama.
- Interact in role with other characters using appropriate
movement and dialogue in an improvised and/or rehearsed
- Construct a scene with a definite beginning, middle, and
Students who meet the standard can analyze how the
arts function in history, society and everyday life.
- Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate audience
- React to performances/ art works in a respectful, constructive,
and supportive manner.
- Match the types of occupations with their art form (e.g.,
actor, director, playwright, designer with drama).
- Compare ways the arts are used in a celebration (e.g.,
masks, costumes, banners, songs, dances).
- List the things that artists make or do when they communicate
through the arts (e.g., pictures, songs, advertisements,
stories, movements, buildings).
- Point out ways the arts are used for personal time and
enrichment (e.g., concerts, plays, exhibits, broadcasts,
social dances, choirs, lessons).
- Describe occupations that are related to the arts (e.g.,
photographer, illustrator, composer, playwright, choreographer,
Students who meet the standard understand how the
arts shape and reflect history, society and everyday life.
- Identify cultural characteristics of a work of art.
- Describe how the arts inform viewers about people and
events from history.
- Name significant artists in dance, drama, music, or visual
Return to Fine Arts Classroom
Assessments and Performance Descriptors