Questioning Characters in Fiction and Non-Fiction Lesson Get your actors of all ages interacting with text by becoming the characters, objects, or animals they are reading about. Actors work with a partner to create interviews and learn to ask important questions. Character building and questioning skills are the focus of this lesson. Questioning Characters in … Read more
Introducing Transformation and Predicting: The Gingerbread Man Lesson Using the beloved story of The Gingerbread Man students not only learn to transform into characters and imitate the actions of those characters, they also have many opportunities to predict and revise as they enact the story with you and their classmates. Introducing Transformation and Predicting: The … Read more
American Pioneers Lesson Teaching all the complexities of westward expansion to students in grades 4-6 may seem overwhelming at first. However, in this lesson, students have the chance to apply what they have learned in social studies into creating a drama that explores the economic and geographic factors that affected Americans from 1800-1861, causing many … Read more
The Nutcracker 3: Original Pantomime to Nutcracker Music Lesson How can we use music to inspire our storytelling? In this lesson, students in grades 3-6 will listen to a selection from The Nutcracker, and work in groups to come up with their own original dramas inspired by the music. Perfect for enhancing students’ use of … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
The Box Poem Grasshoppers, beetles, and black slugs, oh my! This playful poem tells the story of a child who fills their favorite box with everything from bugs to buttons. Students in grades 2-5 can use this poem to practice imitation, emotions, and body object skills. You may also choose to integrate Language Arts learning … Read more
Does Anybody Have a Stamp? Poem Why is it that we never get fun mail anymore? In this hilarious poem, all the narrator wants is to finally receive a real letter instead of junk mail – but the mailman has other ideas. This poem provides a great opportunity for students in grades 3-6 to practice … Read more
Pirate Poem Have you ever wanted to go on a swashbuckling adventure… right in the middle of the school day? This adventurous poem provides great opportunities for students in grades 2-5 to practice imitation, emotions, and transformation skills. As the instructor, you may also choose to integrate Character Education skills by discussing the role of … Read more