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Tableau

Third graders learn to make a tableau — a frozen picture of a story moment made with their bodies — building teamwork, body control, and storytelling without a single word.

Grade 3Movement35 minutes1 class periodArtistic ProcessExplicit teaching4 StandardsNCAS
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain a tableau.
  • ✓Pose to show a character.
  • ✓Order the steps.
  • ✓Freeze a scene.
Essential Question

A tableau is like a photo you make with your bodies — frozen still to show a story moment! How do you create one?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Tableau Steps

Project this and have children put the steps of making a tableau in order.

🧍 Put the tableau steps in order!Try it
Tap the first step!
The Lesson · Artistic Process (Warm-Up · Explore · Rehearse · Perform · Reflect)

35 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — A Frozen Photo

4 min

A tableau is a frozen picture you make with your bodies — how?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a tableau.
  • Ask what story it shows.
  • Warm up.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Guess.
  • Warm up.
2

Explore — Tableau

9 min

Children explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send children to Order the Tableau Steps.
  • Order them.
  • Note freezing.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order.
  • Note it.
  • Name.
3

Rehearse — Rehearse

10 min

Children rehearse.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a story moment.
  • Pose your character.
  • Add an expression.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick it.
  • Pose it.
  • Express it.
4

Perform — Perform

8 min

Children perform.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Make a tableau in a group.
  • Freeze still.
  • Be kind.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Make it.
  • Freeze!
  • Be kind.
5

Reflect — Reflect

4 min

Children respond.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name the first step.
  • Say what a tableau is.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the National Core Arts Standards (Theatre).

NCAS
TH:Cr1.1.3

Create a tableau of a story.

NCAS
TH:Pr5.1.3

Use the body to freeze a pose.

NCAS
TH:Pr4.1.3

Make clear physical choices.

NCAS
TH:Re7.1.3

Interpret a frozen scene.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Tableau picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “First ___, then ___.”
  • Pose together.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with pose and freeze.
  • Order two at a time.
  • Pose one character.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Make a story in 3 tableaux.
  • Add levels.
  • Bring a tableau to life.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🧍Open space
  • 💻Order the Tableau Steps
  • 📚Story cards
  • 🖍️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

tableaua frozen body picturefreezeto hold stillposea still body shapecharacterwho you playexpressionthe feeling on your facescenea story momentstillnot movinggroupworking together
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a tableau?
A frozen picture of a story moment made with your bodies.
QUESTION 2
What do you do at the end of making a tableau?
Freeze completely still.
QUESTION 3
Do you talk during a tableau?
No — you freeze and show the story with your body.

Reflect: freeze a scene.

Have children make a tableau of a favorite story moment with their family. A printable tableau sheet is in the Arts library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 TableauFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 TableauQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ TableauPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: character, expression, freeze, group, pose, scene, still, tableau
  1. to hold still
  2. a story moment
  3. working together
  4. the feeling on your face
  5. a still body shape
  6. a frozen body picture
  7. not moving
  8. who you play

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a tableau?
  2. What do you do at the end of making a tableau?
  3. Do you talk during a tableau?
Answer key — Part A: 1) freeze · 2) scene · 3) group · 4) expression · 5) pose · 6) tableau · 7) still · 8) character
Part B: 1) A frozen picture of a story moment made with your bodies. 2) Freeze completely still. 3) No — you freeze and show the story with your body.