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Inferencing and Questioning in “The Daydreamer” Lesson
Inferencing and Questioning in “The Daydreamer” Lesson Inferencing and Questioning in “The Daydreamer” Rubric Want a way to get students to make inferences and ask questions about a text while addressing bullying issues? This lesson for fourth through eighth graders is the first in a series that makes up a longer unit based on McEwan’s … Read more
September 5, 2022
Band-Aids Poem
Band-Aids Poem What if every band-aid were a badge of honor? This heartfelt poem for grades 3-6 tells the story of an accident-prone child who comes to view boo-boos as stories of bravery. Students can practice action/reaction, body objects, problem solving, and/or narrator skills. We have also included some recommended step-by-step delivery ideas to help … Read more
March 15, 2022
Transform with a Chair Activity
Transform with a Chair Activity This exercise is designed for beginning students. Participants learn how to transform into characters. The activity includes suggestions for characters to try!
December 17, 2020
Pantomimes Activity
Pantomimes Activity If your students have mastered imitation, they may be ready to try pantomime! With pantomime, there are no props or sounds; participants must tell a story using only the body. In this activity, pantomime is introduced with various prompts. No materials are required.
December 8, 2020
Journey to Another Culture Lesson
Journey to Another Culture Lesson Objective: Students analyze the relationships between actors, directors, and stories. In this 6-day unit, students take a deep dive into studying one specific culture or place. After an introduction into the concept of culture, students research a chosen culture and plan a trip to visit it. Students then go on … Read more
October 14, 2018
Emotion Emotion Lesson
Emotion Emotion Lesson Objective: Students analyze artistic choices used to communicate emotion. In this lesson, students learn about communicating emotions by studying and imitating works of art (ideas & examples provided). Particular attention is paid to the way posture, gesture, and facial expressions can reveal how characters feel. Working in small groups, students have the … Read more
October 13, 2018
This Morning I Felt Lesson
This Morning I Felt Lesson Objective: Students communicate character emotions in a story. Happy, scared, and excited…GO! Using a set of three given emotions, students in this lesson create scenes that tell the story of an eventful day. Building off of their previous drama experience, students must use both their interpersonal skills of collaboration and … Read more
Landforms Lesson
Landforms Lesson Objective: Students demonstrate the roles of cause and effect and force in stories. In this action-packed three-day unit, students will explore the connections between drama, science, and language arts. First, students read and enact “The Little Hole at the Bottom of the Sea.” Then, using the main story elements, students craft their own … Read more
October 7, 2018
Crazy Shapes & Transform the Chair Lesson
Crazy Shapes & Transform the Chair Lesson Objective: Students analyze physical choices used to communicate character. Students twist their bodies into creative images and adjust their physical expression according to changes in location and situation. They have fun learning how simple prompts about a setting impact character posture. They explore how these strong physical choices … Read more
April 21, 2018
King Bidgood Lesson
King Bidgood Lesson Objective: students will learn how to identify and solve dramatic problems. All children take a bath and, at some point, they refuse to get out of the water as they have so much fun. Many can identify with this lesson’s book by Audrey Wood of “King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub.” The students … Read more
February 4, 2018
Caps for Sale Lesson
Caps for Sale Lesson Objective: students will learn how to identify and solve dramatic problems. Building on the previous lessons, the students will enjoy acting out the included story of Caps for Sale. They will interactively learn how to solve problems by wit and not by anger (part of the kindergarten objectives). Begin the lesson … Read more
Charlie Lesson
Charlie Lesson Objective: students will imitate the actions of a character with movement and practice adding and resolving simple problems in a drama. Using the original story ”Charlie” written for this lesson, students interactively provide suggestions and act out characters. The students will enjoy adding descriptions, dialogue, characters, and simple problems to the story to … Read more
Emotions & History Lesson
Emotions & History Objective: students will learn how emotion can influence choices of action. Building on the prior two emotions lessons in our fourth grade series, this lesson examines emotions in characters from historical events. Students work together in small groups to present a short scene where they react to a situation from history. Through … Read more
September 11, 2016
Emotions Lesson (Part 2)
Emotions Lesson (Part 2): Emotion Stories Objective: Students communicate emotions through physical movement, facial expression, and posture. This lesson continues from Part 1 by building students’ skills at playing emotions in character. Students work together in pairs (or groups up to four) and are given a very short scene where they choose two emotions to … Read more
Emotions Lesson (Part 1)
Emotions Lesson (Part 1): Communicating Emotions Objective: Students communicate emotions through physical movement, facial expression, and posture. Playing emotions is at the heart of becoming a character and this lesson assists in building that skill. Students first imitate simple actions to communicate emotions as others try to identify which emotion they have chosen (part of … Read more
September 8, 2016
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