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Revolutionary War: The Printing Press

Revolutionary War: The Printing Press

Connecting historical events to movement and narrative can be a great way to help students in grades 5-7 memorize dates and facts.  In this lesson, students read a story about a parent and child who are on different sides of the American Revolution. While using collaboration, imitation, and character transformation to act out the story, students can also learn about the factors that shaped the Revolutionary War and the different perspectives of Loyalists and Patriots. 

NOTE: Revolutionary War: The Printing Press is part of our unique library of integrated lessons. 
These specialized lessons simultaneously teach concepts and skills related to drama and the other subject(s) targeted in the lesson. In addition, these lessons are designed to meet National Standards for Drama and for the integrated subject(s), so you can reach learning goals across multiple disciplines.

Revolutionary War: The Printing Press Rubric

Connecting Drama and Science – Body Objects: With Setting, Environments and Details

Connecting Drama and Science - Body Objects: With Setting, Environments, and Details

Discover the striking parallels between establishing setting in drama and studying environments from a scientific standpoint. This lesson, designed for grades 3-8, goes in-depth on both topics, challenging students to be detail-oriented and collaborative in their thinking. Students can hone their transformation and body object skills, while integrating science and language arts by identifying the details of different environments and describing them.  

NOTE: Connecting Drama and Science - Body Objects is part of our unique library of integrated lessons. These specialized lessons simultaneously teach concepts and skills related to drama and the other subject(s) targeted in the lesson. In addition, these lessons are designed to meet National Standards for Drama and for the integrated subject(s), so you can reach learning goals across multiple disciplines.

Rooster’s Off to Save the World Lesson

Rooster's Off to Save the World Lesson

At first glance, math and drama skills may seem like an unlikely pairing. However, in this playful lesson for grades K-2, students can practice addition and subtraction while honing their movement and animal transformation skills. Based on the beloved book by Eric Carle, this integrated lesson helps students more deeply understand the concepts of addition and subtraction while encouraging their sense of imagination and play.

NOTE: Rooster's Off to Save the World is part of our unique library of integrated lessons. These specialized lessons simultaneously teach concepts and skills related to drama and the other subject(s) targeted in the lesson. In addition, these lessons are designed to meet National Standards for Drama and for the integrated subject(s), so you can reach learning goals across multiple disciplines.

Becoming the Body Lesson

Becoming the Body Lesson

Collaboration is a crucial skill for students to cultivate across all academic subjects. To that end, we have written a lesson that integrates the drama skills of collaboration and transformation with the scientific skills of identifying and explaining the function of different body parts.  This lesson is well-suited for students in grades K-5.

NOTE: Becoming the Body is part of our unique library of integrated lessons. These specialized lessons simultaneously teach concepts and skills related to drama and the other subject(s) targeted in the lesson. In addition, these lessons are designed to meet National Standards for Drama and for the integrated subject(s), so you can reach learning goals across multiple disciplines.

 

Building Vocabulary Through Drama: Vocabulary Statues Lesson

Building Vocabulary Through Drama: Vocabulary Statues Lesson

Memorizing vocabulary words can be one of the most tedious tasks for students to do – so how could it possibly lend itself to drama? Using the drama concepts of tableaux, collaboration and planning, this exciting lesson for grades K-12 will break up the tedium of vocabulary learning by challenging students to research their own words, then share vocabulary inspired images with their classmates. This lesson integrates drama with Language Arts by teaching figurative language, dictionary skills, and tableaux in tandem.

NOTE: Building Vocabulary Through Drama: Vocabulary Statues is part of our unique library of integrated lessons. These specialized lessons simultaneously teach concepts and skills related to drama and the other subject(s) targeted in the lesson. In addition, these lessons are designed to meet National Standards for Drama and for the integrated subject(s), so you can reach learning goals across multiple disciplines.

The Nutcracker 2: Mouse and Toy Soldier Fight Lesson

The Nutcracker 2: Mouse and Toy Soldier Fight Lesson

Capture students’ imaginations with this climactic battle scene! Designed for grades 3-6, this lesson provides an engaging way for students to learn about physical choices, collaboration, and conflict through creating a pantomime of the battle from The Nutcracker. You can also use this as an opportunity to teach students about physical safety in drama, by emphasizing the need for great concentration when acting out a fight scene.

The Nutcracker 1: Brother and Sister Quarrel Lesson

The Nutcracker 1: Brother and Sister Quarrel Lesson

Any student with siblings will have plenty of experience to draw on for this lesson! Based on the imaginative story of the Nutcracker, this lesson asks students to work in partners, creating a silent drama about a sibling quarrel. Emphasizing the drama tool of the body, this is a great way for students in grades 3-6 to practice imagination, collaboration, and tableau skills. Building off the example given in The Nutcracker, you can also use this lesson to introduce the concept of Conflict/Resolution.

Personification and Characters Lesson

Personification and Characters Lesson

How do actors bring object characters to life? Designed for students in fourth grade, this lesson helps students move from body object imitation into acting out full dramas with object characters. This challenging lesson helps students practice concentration, transformation and full use of their body and voice. It also provides a great opportunity to integrate Language Arts by identifying and discussing personification in a written text. 

Mime with The Ever-Evolving Green Man Lesson

Mime with The Ever-Evolving Green Man Lesson

Mime is one of the most challenging and most important skills for young actors to learn. Inspired by Gail E. Haley’s The Green Man, this lesson challenges actors to create group mimes based on scenes from the book. This lesson comes with variations for students in grades 3-8 and provides an excellent way for students to practice concentration, collaboration, and transforming into a character.

Making the Thundercake Lesson

Making the Thundercake Lesson

A roll of thunder. A pitter pat of rain. A creaky old door. What connects all these things? They are sound effects that evoke a mysterious, scary mood! Based on the book Thundercake by Patricia Polacco, this lesson is designed to teach students in grades 3-5 how to create mood using sound effects and movement. This is a great way for students to practice vocal skills, emotions, and teamwork by introducing the concept of mood in a story or drama. You could also use this lesson to introduce students to lighting or sound design by discussing how designers create mood in theatrical productions.