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A Class Act

All the world's a stage when students write a theatrical script and design and illustrate its setting.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    People have been captivated by stage productions for thousands of years since a man named Thespis, who lived in Greece in the 6th century BCE, effectively became the first actor. He is the reason actors have come to be known as thespians. Have students think about plays they have seen or read. Perhaps it was a school play or maybe it was a stage show that was recorded and shown on television. Have students note some of the differences between movies and plays. For example, though movies can reach larger audiences and employ dramatic special effects, plays can engage the audience in a more personal way. Often, the sets in theatrical plays are minimal, and the audience uses its imagination to fill in the gaps. 

  • Step 2

    Have students form small groups and brainstorm ideas for a stage play. Then have them collaborate to write the play's dialogue. Encourage them to add notes to the script that would guide the actors. For example they might write stage directions like, "Tom crosses the stage and looks startled to see Bob."  Then have them illustrate a set for the play. Have them also note the props that would be needed for the play.

  • Step 3

    Have each group perform their play for the class, and have a discussion about all the elements that go in to creating a theatrical production.

Standards

ARTS: Participate in methods of investigation to devise original ideas for a drama/theatre work.

LA: Develop real and imagined narratives.

Adaptations

Have each group construct the props that will be needed in the play. They can use recycled or found objects as well as Model Magic to design them.

Drama games provide students with a way to strengthen imagination, self-confidence, and self-expression skills. Engage the class in some drama games. This might include asking students to act out a suggested scene, such as smelling freshly baked cookies, hearing a fire alarm, seeing a puppy, etc. Or have students create a "chain story" where one person says a word and each subsequent person adds a word until a story is felt to be complete.