How can we use our voices to express meaning and tell stories? This lesson delves into the wonders of poetry, and eases students from individual work to partner work to whole class performance. Designed for grades 3-12, this lesson is a fantastic way to help students practice concentration, collaboration and vocal skills.
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.
Teach students about character transformation, the function of bones in the human body and improvisation all in one exciting, integrated lesson. Designed for students in grades 3-8, this lesson helps you teach in role, guiding students through a process drama centered around identifying and explaining the function of different bones in the human body. This is a great way to get students excited about studying biology while also helping them practice collaboration and characterization skills.
NOTE: Studying Bones: The Scientist's Dilemma 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.
How can we take students from learning a list of new words to feeling true mastery over a new vocabulary? This lesson helps students deepen their understanding of new words by challenging them to create a story inspired by an assigned word. Perfect for helping students practice collaboration, negotiation and planning, this lesson provides a great opportunity to integrate Language Arts by discussing the use of story elements and dialogue in creating a drama.
NOTE: "What Do Words Mean?" with Story & Dialogue 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.
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 physical storytelling, collaboration and imagination, this lesson also introduces the concept of a support tool in drama. You can use this as a jumping off point to discuss how students might use music to enhance their dramas going forward.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.