Sexting Drama – Lesson Plan 1

Target AudienceKey Stage 4 and 5

Lesson AimPupils will work in groups to discuss their internet use and what they already know about sexting. They are encouraged to research and debate existing case scenarios.

Learning Objectives Pupils will dissect and understand the term “SEXTING”.

National Curriculum Links Please see curriculum grid: England: PSHE, Citizenship, Literacy, ICT, and Religious Education

Scotland: Health and Wellbeing, Literacy, Christianity, Social sciences, Technologies.

GCSE Exam links: AQA GCSE Drama specifications – June 2011 onwards: This lesson can be used to support Unit 2: practical work, supplementing devised thematic work, acting, improvisation and theatre in education options. Part 2 (options 1-5) can also be used for EDEXCEL GCSE Drama. Meets AO1: practical exploration and Unit 3 Drama performance.

Timing: 2 x 60 minute classes Key Vocabulary: sexting, bystander, accessory, implication

Preparation: Pupils should have a teacher led read though of the script prior to the session.

Organisation: In pairs within a hall or classroom setting with internet access.

Resources: Printed scripts of the play. Internet capability. Whiteboard. Pens and paper.

Lesson Outline MinutesActivity 1 Group discussion on internet use. Time spent online and

activity.10 minutes

Activity 2 Dissect and understand the term sexting. 10 minutesActivity 3 Debate different opinions and sides of the argument. 20 minutesActivity 4 Read through of the script. 20 minutesPlenary Pupils create the opening for scene 1 of the play. 60 minutesExtension Additional exercise to create something based on the play.

Lesson

ACTIVITY 1 THE GROUP AND THE INTERNETGroup discussion

How many of you.................................. Use the internet and how often?Have your own computer/laptop?Use social networking sites?Communicate with most of your friends this way rather than meet up face to face?Would consider the majority of people on your SNS true friends or people that you know well?Have ever posted an image of other people online without their permission?

THE GROUP AND THEIR MOBILESHow many of you.................................. Send pictures via your phone? Sent a picture without someone’s consent?Ever received a text or image that they have found upsetting?Ever received a text or image that was of a sexual nature? That received an unwanted text or image told someone or did something about it?

ACTIVITY 2 WHAT IS SEXTING?Smaller/split group discussion work

Group to come up with a definition of the word “SEXTING”.

Chart key words that are associated with sexting.

What age do you think are most affected?

Do you think girls or boys are more affected? Why is this?

Why do you think people do it?

Why do many choose not to tell if something they have read or seen upsets them?

What could be the outcome of an episode of sexting?

At what point is it considered “sexting”? When the text or image is taken? When it is sent? When it is shared?

ACTIVITY 3 DEBATE

Hand each group one of the following statements. Allow 5minutes to discuss and prepare, ready to dispute their comment for group debate:

It’s usually the shy type of girl that does it, trying to be popular

When it’s just you with a boy, it can be difficult to resist that pressure

I like the attention. If you’re comfortable with your body, then why not? What’s the problem?

I don’t think what I’m doing is anything different to what........does in her music video.

Ok, we’re 14 but we love each other and want to be together forever.

ACTIVITY 4 READ THE PLAY

It is advisable to place the read through at this stage in the lesson plan in order to see whether there is a change of attitude towards the subject matter.

Any play reading is best performed in a circle setting as this encourages group focus.

Hand out copies of the script and allocate roles.

Read the entire script.

Discuss first impressions of the play, characters and whether there is a change of attitude toward the subject matter.

PLENARY

Scene 1 of the play opens with a montage made up of words, images and sounds. This section of the play has been inserted as an activity for students that may prefer to be involved in production

rather than performance. This exercise has been constructed in two parts..

Part 1. Research, record and design an atmospheric opening to the play that is fast and slightly chaotic. Think photos being taken, phone tones, emails being sent etc. Why not create a song or rap to open the piece?

Part 2. Record the Audio news reports that dissolve out of the montage. It can be as technical or as simple as you like, depending on technical ability, available equipment and time. You may want to pre-record and play visually on screens. Record as an audio or act it out!

Additional exercise: Structure, write and act out a mock interview or report based on events from the play.

TEACHER’S NOTE Teachers should note that it is illegal to take, make, possess or share indecent photos of anyone under the age of 18 in the UK (section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978 as amended by Section 45 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003)Guidance from the Association of Chief of Police Officers (ACPO) recommends police deal with cases of children creating self taken images and distributing them electronically, a form of sexting, on a case by case basis. Any intervention should have the welfare of the child at its heart and ACPO does not support the prosecution or criminalization of children for taking indecent images of themselves and sharing them. To access the full guidance from ACPO Child Protection and Abuse Investigation (CPAI) Group, ACPO CPAI Lead’s Position on Young People Who Post Self-Taken Indecent Images see:

http://www.ceop.police.uk/Documents/ceopdocs/externaldocs/ACPO_Lead_position_on_Self_Taken_Images.pdf

Handling disclosures: As a result of the discussions held on sexting, some students may disclose incidents of a sensitive nature, such as having taken, sent or received messages or images of a sexual nature. These may be about themselves or someone they know. Further information on disclosure and reporting can be found and downloaded from the sexting resource page.