T.E407

Tableaux

Using a general object as inspiration, groups of five to six students will create three tableaux based on an object.
Begin by having each student draw a card at random from a deck of cards with pictures of different objects. Students will be grouped by matching the objects on the card, and the object will be the subject of that team’s tableaux.
The first tableau will show all ensemble members using their bodies to create the assigned object. The second tableau will depict an event where the assigned object is part of the setting or a prop. The third tableau will depict a variation of the second tableau.
For example, if the assigned object is a birthday cake, the ensemble might create a birthday cake as their first tableau, a birthday party as their second tableau, and a birthday party where one person is left out or uninvited as their third tableau.
This assessment has three parts to it:
o Part 1–Students select a card with an illustration of a particular object (a soccer ball, a tree, a campfire, a book, a computer, a clock, a flower, a broom, and so forth) at random from the set of provided object cards.
o Part 2–Students discuss, script, and rehearse with an ensemble the three required tableaux.
o Part 3–Students perform the three tableaux with classmates and/or teacher as audience.

This item has been voluntarily field-tested by Michigan teachers with a non-representative sample of students.


This is an analytic rubric. The column on the left shows the dimension that is being measured in the student’s performance. The levels across the top row indicate the performance level in the dimensions. Occasionally all dimensions and performance levels are exemplified by multiple students in a single recording.

Teacher Scoring Rubric

  • Dimension
  • Thinking

    Use of planning skills

  • Communication

    Communication for different audiences and purposes

  • Communication

    Conventions of tableau, Frozen, Open to audience, Facial expression, Contribute to focal point, Contribute to variety in levels, Contribute to variety in planes (foreground, background)

  • Application

    Making connections within and between contexts

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Few elements of the tableau are purposefully organized.

    N/A at this time.
  • Some elements of the tableau are purposefully organized.

    N/A at this time.
  • Elements of the tableau are purposefully organized.

    View Exemplar
  • Elements of the tableau are purposefully and precisely organized.

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  • Lacks precision modifying body position to suit audience and purpose of tableau.

    N/A at this time.
  • Somewhat precise when modifying body position to suit audience and purpose of tableau.

    N/A at this time.
  • Modifies body position to suit audience and purpose of tableau with precision.

    View Exemplar
  • Expertly modifies body position to suit audience and purpose of tableau.

    View Exemplar
  • Effectively uses one convention of tableau.

    N/A at this time.
  • Effectively uses two or three conventions of tableau.

    N/A at this time.
  • Effectively uses four or five conventions of tableau.

    View Exemplar
  • Effectively uses all six conventions of tableau.

    View Exemplar
  • Expresses the character's thought, emotion, or action with little or no clarity.

    N/A at this time.
  • Expresses the character's thought, emotion, or action with some clarity.

    N/A at this time.
  • Clearly expresses the character's thought, emotion, or action.

    View Exemplar
  • Insightfully expresses the character's thought, emotion, or action.

    View Exemplar
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