4.2 Dramatisation  (Page 3/3)

Although your invitation must have standard and formal invitation phrases, you are at liberty to use any design and to be creative. The invitation must be so attractive and convincing that your friends will not be able to resist attending.

Like all other writing, first plan and draft your invitation. Here is space for ideas.

Invitation Checklist

Assessment

Memorandum

ACTIVITY 1:

For the learners to enjoy this activity fully, they need to understand the story. The song reflects the plot of a story by O. Henry. The title of the story is “The Gift of the Magi”. Try to find the story, but if you cannot, you can tell them the following story. The story goes as follows:

“Jim and Della are husband and wife living in a rented room in New York. Jim has had his salary reduced to only $20 a week from the $30 a week he used to make (it is the time of the depression in America). After rent and groceries, the couple hardly have any money left.

Christmas is only a day away and, for a Christmas present, Della wants to buy Jim a gold watch chain for his gold watch. They do not have much to be proud of or happy about, but Jim is very proud of that watch. And Della? Della is most proud of her beautiful long hair. But she really wants to buy that gold chain for Jim’s watch. Too bad she only has $1.87. So, she decides to sell her hair to a woman who makes wigs and other hair articles. The woman pays Della $20 for her hair. The chain costs $21, so she now has enough money. She buys the chain to give to Jim. She goes home and prepares Jim’s dinner and waits for him to come home, a little bit worried that Jim will be shocked when he sees her with all her beautiful hair cut off.

When Jim comes home, he does look shocked when he sees Della with short hair. He stares at her in a strange way and it scares her. She explains to Jim how she sold her hair to buy him a lovely Christmas present for their first Christmas together. Jim tells her not to worry and that nothing can change his love for her. The reason he is shocked to see her without her long hair is that he also wanted to get a lovely Christmas present for Della. He gives her the present wrapped in paper and Della unwraps it to see that Jim had bought her a set of beautiful combs for her hair.

She had seen them in a shop before, but they were so expensive. How was Jim able to afford them? Suddenly she remembers Jim’s present. She gives him the gold chain. The chain is beautiful, but when Della asks Jim to put it on his watch, Jim surprises her. He sold the watch to buy her gift.” [Summary taken from website: http//www.rdlthai.com ]

Suggested activity procedure

1. Learners read/listen to the song.
2. Teacher allows learners to express their impressions/plot of the lyrics.
3. Teacher tells the exact story so that everybody is clear on the plot.
4. Discuss issues arising from the story e.g. were they both foolish to sell their favourite possessions?
5. The class is divided into groups consisting of both girls and boys.
6. Each group now has to decide how they will dramatize this story. Remind learners that they may use sounds and visuals to enhance their performance.
7. Learners should be given at least two days to prepare themselves for the dramatization.

ACTIVITY 2:

Mr and Mrs Smith - next to one another

Johnny - next to Mr or Mrs Smith

Grandpa John and Grandma Mary - opposite Mr and Mrs Smith

Sarah - pposite door, with back against wall

Uncle Tim and Aunt Jean - anywhere at the table.

Use of colours:

Tablecloth and napkins: gold, beige or brown

Flowers (in soft colours) in the middle of the table.

Flowers in glass bowl (should see water).