Activity Overview
Theater is a visual medium, and it can be helpful for students to create visualizations of what they're reading. For the students, it's a great way for them to demonstrate what they're seeing as they read and helps them understand the formatting of a play. For teachers, it's a great way to assess how well students are understanding the material.
After or during reading Death of a Salesman, students should identify an important scene, something that's a pivotal character moment or that shows one of the prevalent themes. Using the traditional or 16x9 layout, students should recreate the scene, trimming dialogue as necessary. They can include a "previously on" cell like the example above to help root the scene in context.
For an alternative assignment, students can create a graphic novel of their chosen scene using one of our graphic novel layouts. These can be added as additional templates to the assignment.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that depicts a pivotal scene in Death of a Salesman.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the first cell, create a "Previously On" title card.
- Illustrate your chosen scene using appropriate scenes, characters, and props.
- Add dialogue and other textables as needed.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illustrations | The illustrations use appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the assignment. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
Activity Overview
Theater is a visual medium, and it can be helpful for students to create visualizations of what they're reading. For the students, it's a great way for them to demonstrate what they're seeing as they read and helps them understand the formatting of a play. For teachers, it's a great way to assess how well students are understanding the material.
After or during reading Death of a Salesman, students should identify an important scene, something that's a pivotal character moment or that shows one of the prevalent themes. Using the traditional or 16x9 layout, students should recreate the scene, trimming dialogue as necessary. They can include a "previously on" cell like the example above to help root the scene in context.
For an alternative assignment, students can create a graphic novel of their chosen scene using one of our graphic novel layouts. These can be added as additional templates to the assignment.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that depicts a pivotal scene in Death of a Salesman.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the first cell, create a "Previously On" title card.
- Illustrate your chosen scene using appropriate scenes, characters, and props.
- Add dialogue and other textables as needed.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illustrations | The illustrations use appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the assignment. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
How Tos about Depicting a Scene from Death of a Salesman
Engage Students with a Pre-Reading Discussion
Begin by activating students’ prior knowledge and building anticipation for the play. Ask questions about family expectations, personal dreams, and societal pressures to help students connect their own experiences to the themes of Death of a Salesman.
Introduce Key Themes Before Reading
Highlight recurring themes such as the American Dream, family dynamics, and self-worth. This prepares students to notice these ideas as they read and deepens comprehension of the play’s core messages.
Assign Roles for Dramatic Readings
Assign students to read specific character parts aloud in class. This strategy builds engagement, helps students interpret tone and emotion, and brings the script to life in a memorable way.
Use Visual Aids to Support Understanding
Incorporate images, diagrams, or brief video clips of stage performances. Visual supports make complex scenes more accessible and reinforce comprehension of dramatic structure and character relationships.
Facilitate Reflective Journaling After Each Scene
Have students write brief journal entries reflecting on each scene. Prompts might ask them to summarize events, analyze character motivations, or make personal connections to the text. This practice encourages deeper thinking and personal investment in the material.
Frequently Asked Questions about Depicting a Scene from Death of a Salesman
How can students visually depict a scene from Death of a Salesman?
Students can visually depict a scene from Death of a Salesman by creating a storyboard or graphic novel layout that illustrates key moments, characters, and dialogue. This helps them demonstrate understanding and brings the play to life through visuals.
What is the purpose of creating a storyboard for Death of a Salesman in class?
Creating a storyboard allows students to visualize important scenes, demonstrate their comprehension of the play, and interpret character motivations and themes. It also helps teachers assess students' grasp of the material in a creative way.
What steps should students follow to complete a Death of a Salesman scene storyboard?
Students should: 1) Click "Start Assignment", 2) Add a "Previously On" title card, 3) Illustrate a pivotal scene with appropriate characters and dialogue, 4) Include props and text as needed, and 5) Save and exit when finished.
Are there alternative ways to visually represent scenes besides traditional storyboards?
Yes, students can use graphic novel layouts as an alternative to traditional storyboards. This format lets them add more creative elements and present the scene as a comic strip for greater engagement.
How does visualizing scenes from Death of a Salesman help students understand the play?
Visualizing scenes encourages deeper analysis of themes, character development, and plot, allowing students to connect with the material and better understand the structure and meaning of the play.
More Storyboard That Activities
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