Kingdom of Benin study
Drama and role play ; writing activities stimulus:
Use any of the photographs of the Benin Bronzes on the British Museum online collection website: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx?searchText
=benin+bronzes+
Questions on the plaque:
Describe what you think is happening in this plaque in your own words.
What story could you tell about the scene in this plaque?
Unfreeze the scene and put yourself in it. What will you say and do?
Why do you think the bronze caster included these people, this person or this object in this scene?
Write down questions you would like to ask about this plaque using What, Where, Who, When, Why, How, What if?
Imagine a conversation between this plaque and others in the museum. What would they say? Use speech bubbles to show this.
People
What can you see in this bronze plaque?
What can you see happening in the plaque?
Who is in the plaque?
What are they doing?
Where do you think they are?
What time of the day do you think that it is?
What do you think happened before this scene?
What do you think happened after this scene?
What do you think this person is thinking?
What do you think these people could be saying to each other?
In your groups, create a tableau of this scene.
Objects
What can you see in this bronze plaque?
What is shown in this bronze plaque?
Who do you think this object belongs to?
What do you think the object is used for?
How old do you think this object is?
What are this object’s special features?
Where do you think this object has been?
Do you know an equivalent for this object?
Do you think this object is precious to the owner? How do you know?
What story could you tell about this object?
What information could you give about this object?
The same questions can be adapted for use with real objects and artefacts from the Kingdom of Benin.
Use any of the photographs of the Benin Bronzes on the British Museum online collection website: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx?searchText
=benin+bronzes+
Questions on the plaque:
Describe what you think is happening in this plaque in your own words.
What story could you tell about the scene in this plaque?
Unfreeze the scene and put yourself in it. What will you say and do?
Why do you think the bronze caster included these people, this person or this object in this scene?
Write down questions you would like to ask about this plaque using What, Where, Who, When, Why, How, What if?
Imagine a conversation between this plaque and others in the museum. What would they say? Use speech bubbles to show this.
People
What can you see in this bronze plaque?
What can you see happening in the plaque?
Who is in the plaque?
What are they doing?
Where do you think they are?
What time of the day do you think that it is?
What do you think happened before this scene?
What do you think happened after this scene?
What do you think this person is thinking?
What do you think these people could be saying to each other?
In your groups, create a tableau of this scene.
Objects
What can you see in this bronze plaque?
What is shown in this bronze plaque?
Who do you think this object belongs to?
What do you think the object is used for?
How old do you think this object is?
What are this object’s special features?
Where do you think this object has been?
Do you know an equivalent for this object?
Do you think this object is precious to the owner? How do you know?
What story could you tell about this object?
What information could you give about this object?
The same questions can be adapted for use with real objects and artefacts from the Kingdom of Benin.
One person plaque
3. Make a diary entry of their day.
4. In role write a letter to the Oba (king) about an issue concerning the kingdom.
- Hot seat the character and ask:
- What is your name and what are your duties?
- Where are you coming from?
- Where are you going?
- How are you feeling right now?
- What are you looking forward to right now?
3. Make a diary entry of their day.
4. In role write a letter to the Oba (king) about an issue concerning the kingdom.
Multiple people plaque
Write a play script of the scene
Drama and role play
Unfreeze this scene; write a paragraph each of what happened during the scene, five minutes before this scene and five minutes after the scene. Combine these into a short narrative.
Unfreeze this scene; write a story of what happened before this scene, during the scene, and after the scene. Act this out and video record it.
Role play the scene: who are characters? What are they saying to each other?
Include speech bubbles of a conversation between two of the characters.
Imagine one of the characters is planning his or her next move; write a thought bubble of what he or she is thinking.
Thought tapping: Take the role of each character in the plaque; freeze frame the scene; on cue, as one of the characters, say how you are feeling and why.
Give pairs of pupils, one plaque each for thought tapping exercise. Each pair present to the rest of the class who should guess which of the characters each person is representing.
Write a play script of the scene
Drama and role play
Unfreeze this scene; write a paragraph each of what happened during the scene, five minutes before this scene and five minutes after the scene. Combine these into a short narrative.
Unfreeze this scene; write a story of what happened before this scene, during the scene, and after the scene. Act this out and video record it.
Role play the scene: who are characters? What are they saying to each other?
Include speech bubbles of a conversation between two of the characters.
Imagine one of the characters is planning his or her next move; write a thought bubble of what he or she is thinking.
Thought tapping: Take the role of each character in the plaque; freeze frame the scene; on cue, as one of the characters, say how you are feeling and why.
Give pairs of pupils, one plaque each for thought tapping exercise. Each pair present to the rest of the class who should guess which of the characters each person is representing.
Follow-up activities
Objects on plaque questions:
What questions would you like to ask this object?
What do you think the reply will be?
Can you think of questions other people might ask it?
Can you create a poem about the object? Think about its look, colour and shape. Describe how you feel when you look at the object.
Tell a story about a sculpture
Could you write a story about the object? You could imagine what it would do if it could move, where it would go? Or what it was before it was a sculpture?
You can write what you like; the story is up to you.
Make a drawing
Can you make a drawing of one of the plaques or objects? Look at what other people have done.
Sculpture questions
What is it?
What is it made of?
How was it made?
Who made it?
Where should it be?
Where is its stomach?
What does it remind you of?
What name would you give it?
Writing activities
Sentence composition
1. Compose questions to ask the characters; include both closed and open-ended questions.
Write down what you think their answers might be.
2. Write a sentence about what you can see in the plaque.
Expand sentences
Start with a simple sentence. To improve, expand it by asking What, How, When, Where, Why, of the sentence.
What Action was done?
How was it done?
Why was it done? Reason
What time was it done?
Where was it done? Place
An example: The chief danced.
Becomes: The joyous Chief danced all night with his jubilant people who had come to welcome him and his troupes home.
Paragraph construction
Combine three to five simple sentences from the exercises above to form a paragraph.
Short composition
Steps to write a short composition about what is happening in the plaque:
1. Compose simple sentences from your discussion session above.
2. Group all related simple sentences into paragraphs.
3. Order your paragraphs into sections to complete your composition.
Composition ideas
My proudest moment
In role as one of the chiefs, write a recount of a most peculiar visit:
Who is visiting?
Why are they visiting?
Any special event that happens.
Your feelings throughout the visit.
Reporting back
Imagine that you are one of the Oba’s (King) craftsmen or blacksmith; write a report about an object you made for the king.
What did you make?
What is it made of?
What is it used for?
What do you like about it?
What do you think other people like about it?
What did you gain from making this object?
How do you feel about this object?
Now write a short report on ‘My Bronze Plaque’ or 'My Terracotta Figure'
Think about:
The specialist words you will use.
Your introduction.
The main sections.
Your conclusion.
European trader/ visitor accounts
This activity will help your students present their research findings on Kingdom of Benin Trade or other subject matters such as missionaries and explorers.
Resources
Role play cards: European explorer, trader, missionary and visitor.
World map
Europe map
Steps
1)
2)
Issue each group with the following role cards:
3)
The group should work together to decide:
4) Each group should then decide among themselves who will play the four roles in step 2 above.
5) Dressed for their part, each group presents their interview questions and answers to the rest of the class.
The scribe must record exactly what is being said
The artist should draw exact features of the person and the clothes they have on.
6) The rest of the class should feedback to the group on
6) All groups should take turns to present their period drama to the rest of the class and to receive feedback on their performance.
Other outcomes:
Objects on plaque questions:
What questions would you like to ask this object?
What do you think the reply will be?
Can you think of questions other people might ask it?
Can you create a poem about the object? Think about its look, colour and shape. Describe how you feel when you look at the object.
Tell a story about a sculpture
Could you write a story about the object? You could imagine what it would do if it could move, where it would go? Or what it was before it was a sculpture?
You can write what you like; the story is up to you.
Make a drawing
Can you make a drawing of one of the plaques or objects? Look at what other people have done.
Sculpture questions
What is it?
What is it made of?
How was it made?
Who made it?
Where should it be?
Where is its stomach?
What does it remind you of?
What name would you give it?
Writing activities
Sentence composition
1. Compose questions to ask the characters; include both closed and open-ended questions.
Write down what you think their answers might be.
2. Write a sentence about what you can see in the plaque.
Expand sentences
Start with a simple sentence. To improve, expand it by asking What, How, When, Where, Why, of the sentence.
What Action was done?
How was it done?
Why was it done? Reason
What time was it done?
Where was it done? Place
An example: The chief danced.
Becomes: The joyous Chief danced all night with his jubilant people who had come to welcome him and his troupes home.
Paragraph construction
Combine three to five simple sentences from the exercises above to form a paragraph.
Short composition
Steps to write a short composition about what is happening in the plaque:
1. Compose simple sentences from your discussion session above.
2. Group all related simple sentences into paragraphs.
3. Order your paragraphs into sections to complete your composition.
Composition ideas
My proudest moment
In role as one of the chiefs, write a recount of a most peculiar visit:
Who is visiting?
Why are they visiting?
Any special event that happens.
Your feelings throughout the visit.
Reporting back
Imagine that you are one of the Oba’s (King) craftsmen or blacksmith; write a report about an object you made for the king.
What did you make?
What is it made of?
What is it used for?
What do you like about it?
What do you think other people like about it?
What did you gain from making this object?
How do you feel about this object?
Now write a short report on ‘My Bronze Plaque’ or 'My Terracotta Figure'
Think about:
The specialist words you will use.
Your introduction.
The main sections.
Your conclusion.
European trader/ visitor accounts
This activity will help your students present their research findings on Kingdom of Benin Trade or other subject matters such as missionaries and explorers.
Resources
Role play cards: European explorer, trader, missionary and visitor.
World map
Europe map
Steps
1)
- Divide the class into groups of four and issue a character role play card from above to each.
- Each group must then research activities of their character on the West African coast and write down notes to inform their Q&A activity below.
2)
Issue each group with the following role cards:
- A European visitor/ trader to Kingdom of Benin
- An interviewer
- A scribe to write down what was said (questions and answers)
- An artist to draw pictures of the European trader/ visitor
3)
The group should work together to decide:
- Which country the European trader/ visitor is from.
- Possible questions that could be asked to get information on his background and intents.
- Plausible answers for the time period.
4) Each group should then decide among themselves who will play the four roles in step 2 above.
5) Dressed for their part, each group presents their interview questions and answers to the rest of the class.
The scribe must record exactly what is being said
The artist should draw exact features of the person and the clothes they have on.
6) The rest of the class should feedback to the group on
- what they did really well (What Went Well) (WWW).
- one thing they could have done better (Even Better If) (EBI).
6) All groups should take turns to present their period drama to the rest of the class and to receive feedback on their performance.
Other outcomes:
- Create a corner to show part of Kingdom of Benin palace in your classroom e.g. the king's chambers.
- Keep the scribe notes as part of a European scrap book on their visits to the kingdom of Benin.
- Frame the artist drawing and display as a Bronze plaque on the King's palace walls.
- Individual students could write up notes from their presentation for inclusion in their writing folders.
writing genre web links
Get writing level descriptors here: http://iyiomonwritingmatters.blogspot.co.uk/
Find models of different genre of children’s writing here: http://iyiomonworksamples.blogspot.co.uk/
Find text genre, features and forms including genre models here: http://iyiomonwriting-genre.blogspot.co.uk/
Find models of different genre of children’s writing here: http://iyiomonworksamples.blogspot.co.uk/
Find text genre, features and forms including genre models here: http://iyiomonwriting-genre.blogspot.co.uk/
Other RESOURCES
Extend your students understanding of Kingdom of Benin study through vocabulary development. Find out how to in the button link below:
Books
Teachers can find many more ideas in the the books below:
Primary History Kingdom of Benin Black and white: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Primary-History-Kingdom-Benin-Complete/dp/149225813X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385629598&sr=1-6
Primary History: Kingdom of Benin Full colour: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Primary-History-Kingdom-Benin-complete/dp/149227707X/ref=la_B00B0WUKEI_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385629704&sr=1-3
Key Stage 2 SATs English Practice Exercises:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stage-SATs-English-Practise-Exercises/dp/1494252325/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_t_3_PY12
The e-learning section of this web site also has a range of subjects teaching ideas.
Teachers can find many more ideas in the the books below:
Primary History Kingdom of Benin Black and white: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Primary-History-Kingdom-Benin-Complete/dp/149225813X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385629598&sr=1-6
Primary History: Kingdom of Benin Full colour: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Primary-History-Kingdom-Benin-complete/dp/149227707X/ref=la_B00B0WUKEI_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385629704&sr=1-3
Key Stage 2 SATs English Practice Exercises:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stage-SATs-English-Practise-Exercises/dp/1494252325/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_t_3_PY12
The e-learning section of this web site also has a range of subjects teaching ideas.
