Open Forum

Google has LET ME DOWN!

I'm challenged with creating a hands-on lesson on scenic design without having all of my students in one class at one time due to testing.

Firstly, does anyone have one of those "create this scene 3-dimensionally on a proscenium stage with file folders and glue" type lesson plans already? Translation: amazingly about the "script realization" and less about the actual parameters of set *design*. Oh... and K.I.S.S. 

And does anyone have images of these works their students have created in the past? Our school drives were completely wiped clean in Octobber and I--- lost--- everything that I hadn't Dropboxed yet.

Finally, am always up to using new materials. I've been using the set-up to "A Doll's House" (the kids have always enjoyed the challenge of the door and I enjoy seeing who remembers the Christmas tree detail)  but I'm open to new ideas. 

ACT I 

A room, comfortably and tastefully, but not expensively, 
furnished. In the back, on stage right, a door leads to the 
hall ; on stage left another door leads to Helmer's study. 
Between the two doors a piano. In the center of the SL wall a door,
and nearer the front a window. Near the 
window a round table with armchairs and a small sofa. 
In the right wall, somewhat to the back, a door, and against 
the same wall, farther DS, a porcelain stove; in front 
of it a couple of armchairs and a rocking-chair. Between 
the stove and the side-door a small table. Engravings on 
the walls. A whatnot with china and bric-a-brac. A small 
bookcase filled with handsomely bound books. Carpet. A 
fire in the stove. It is a winter day.

A bell rings in the hall outside. Presently the outer door 
of the flat is heard to open. Then Nora enters, humming 
gaily. She is in outdoor dress, and carries several parcels, 
which she lays on the SR table. She leaves the door 
into the hall open, and a Porter is seen outside, carrying a 
Christmas-tree and a basket, which he gives to the maid- 
servant who has opened the door.

I have my students use Sketchup (a free download) and do computer design. I change the play year to year.  This year my tech theatre kids are doing Riders to the Sea.

I have to scan the assignment because I lost it somewhere.  But here it is as a PDF.  Feel free to adapt as you need to!

Love the idea of using a computer generated program but I wasn't able to do anything except look at the scale model of the stage.  How do we actually use the sketchup program?  

Bernadette,

What we do is read a play, this year is Riders to the Sea.  It's short, and only has one scene.  Then they come up with a set design for the show and put it on the model stage.  I show them how to draw flats (you have to draw a 2D rectangle and then use the Push/Pull tool to give it thickness), and how to cut out openings.  I show them how to move the pieces around and to angle them.  I show them how to put texture and color on the objects.  

Then I let them go.  I do have them show me a sketched out version of the ground plan so I can see what they are working with.  But most of the time, especially working in pairs, they do quite well in navigating the program.  But you want to be sure you have a handle of the basics (see above) before you start.  I'm sure there are even some YouTube videos offering tutorials on the program.

Let me know if I can be of further help!

Ray

While no one has mentioned VectorWorks, here is a video showing how to take a VectorWorks drawing and making a model. You might be able to adapt it to SketchUp.

Making White Models using VectorWorks, part I

Google has LET ME DOWN!

I'm challenged with creating a hands-on lesson on scenic design without having all of my students in one class at one time due to testing.

Firstly, does anyone have one of those "create this scene 3-dimensionally on a proscenium stage with file folders and glue" type lesson plans already? Translation: amazingly about the "script realization" and less about the actual parameters of set *design*. Oh... and K.I.S.S. 

And does anyone have images of these works their students have created in the past? Our school drives were completely wiped clean in Octobber and I--- lost--- everything that I hadn't Dropboxed yet.

Finally, am always up to using new materials. I've been using the set-up to "A Doll's House" (the kids have always enjoyed the challenge of the door and I enjoy seeing who remembers the Christmas tree detail)  but I'm open to new ideas. 

ACT I

A room, comfortably and tastefully, but not expensively,
furnished. In the back, on stage right, a door leads to the
hall ; on stage left another door leads to Helmer's study.
Between the two doors a piano. In the center of the SL wall a door,
and nearer the front a window. Near the
window a round table with armchairs and a small sofa.
In the right wall, somewhat to the back, a door, and against
the same wall, farther DS, a porcelain stove; in front
of it a couple of armchairs and a rocking-chair. Between
the stove and the side-door a small table. Engravings on
the walls. A whatnot with china and bric-a-brac. A small
bookcase filled with handsomely bound books. Carpet. A
fire in the stove. It is a winter day.

A bell rings in the hall outside. Presently the outer door
of the flat is heard to open. Then Nora enters, humming
gaily. She is in outdoor dress, and carries several parcels,
which she lays on the SR table. She leaves the door
into the hall open, and a Porter is seen outside, carrying a
Christmas-tree and a basket, which he gives to the maid-
servant who has opened the door.