Character Watch: What do you think each of these characters is thinking and feeling?

Character Watch: What do you think each of these characters is thinking and feeling? Oh my goodness I’m getting a headache Get that dog away from me This toy is fun! I hate photos! Smile! Put that down! Why do I have to hold this dog? Don’t overreact it’s only a dog! I wish she would just smile for once I can’t hear anything over all this noise!

We are going to do a drama activity in pairs today where we create a family photograph. The families we are going to use for our pictures are from the book. The Tolchards and the Shoreys,

SNAPSHOT 1 ‘Hello, son.’ The man on the doorstep smiled. Easy, confident, sure of his welcome. The boy just stared at him. Shocked. ‘Who is it Jack?’ wheezed the voice from the parlour across the narrow hallway. ‘My father,’ said the boy, still staring. Then he turned from the door, leaving the man he hadn’t seen for three years to follow if he chose.

SNAPSHOT 2 His father said nothing. Didn’t explain. Didn’t thank him. Merely closed the door and began slowly to right the furniture. ‘Who was he?’ Jack finally managed to ask. His father shrugged. ‘No idea. A burglar, maybe.’ He attempted a joke. ‘Came to the wrong place here.’ ‘Will you stop lying to me!’ Jack was trembling. ‘Just stop lying to me!’

How does he feel about his dad? Will this affect how he sits/stands? Where will he look? Why? How does he feel about his son? Will this affect how he sits/stands? Where will he look? Why?

SNAPSHOT 3 Rupert was an only child and disliked school. He was indulged in this by his mother, who wanted him to be happy. So Rupert had been excused the terrors of boarding school at the age of seven and allowed to attend day school instead. He was excused the terrors of day school by regular if vague illnesses which usually coincided with boxing lessons and gymnastics in the school yard. His father occasionally muttered in a disapproving way but didn’t interfere.

How does he feel about his son and wife? Will this affect his body language? Where will he look? Why? How does she feel about her son and husband? Will this affect his body language? Where will he look? Why? How does he feel about his mum and dad? Will this affect his body language? Where will he look? Why?

Prepare your freeze frame portraits, using the prompts that you have been given, we will be seeing what you come up with later in the lesson.

For each group’s picture, jot down what emotions and feelings you think each character is trying to convey. E.G. ‘I think Tom is trying to show that Jack doesn’t like Tony very much because he is sitting with his back to him’

Discuss and bullet point the differences between the Tolchards and the Shoreys based on our work today.