Facebook Pixel Skip to main content

Distance Learning

Teaching drama online? We’ve got you.

Explore flexible activities and ideas that keep students engaged, creative, and connected from anywhere.

Warm-up Exercises for Trust Building
Distance Learning

Warm-up Exercises for Trust Building

It’s not unusual to feel slightly disconnected from students while teaching virtually (and we don’t mean when the internet stops working!). Drama classes are all about human connection and trust,...
What Is Your Body Language Saying?
Classroom Exercise

What Is Your Body Language Saying?

When teaching virtually to students with their cameras on, teachers get to witness all sorts of interesting student antics — students tuning in from strange locations (their closet, their family’s...
Safety Concerns in Distance Learning
Distance Learning

Safety Concerns in Distance Learning

Our world has become increasingly dependent on digital means to work, play, and learn, and school is no exception. More and more students are participating in distance learning for their classes....
Distance Learning: Framing Exercise
Classroom Exercise

Distance Learning: Framing Exercise

When students are acting on camera – like when they are participating in a virtual drama class, or doing an online performance – their playing space is the rectangular area visible in their webcam....
Distance Learning Exercise: Lipdub
Classroom Exercise

Distance Learning Exercise: Lipdub

The following exercise, Lipdub, brings together observation, critical thinking, scene writing, and vocal performance. As well, it’s a lot of fun! Lipdubs are commonly seen on YouTube as musical...
Playwriting Exercise: Advertisement Prompt
Classroom Exercise

Playwriting Exercise: Advertisement Prompt

Here’s a playwriting prompt exercise that takes advantage of something that’s frequently around us: advertisements! Ads are everywhere, and their main purpose is to sell us stuff. But we’re going...
Playwriting Exercise: Prompts from a Book
Classroom Exercise

Playwriting Exercise: Prompts from a Book

Are your students feeling overwhelmed with possibilities for writing a new monologue? Do they need help focusing on one idea? Or are you simply looking for a way to get your students writing? For...
Using Plays for Classroom Study
Distance Learning

Using Plays for Classroom Study

During a busy school year, when your theatre program is juggling packed schedules, limited rehearsal time, and competing priorities, putting on a full production might not always be possible. Who...
Improv Game: Creative Defiance
Classroom Exercise

Improv Game: Creative Defiance

The core tenet of improvisation is “Yes, and…” To keep the scene going, each participant must agree with any suggestion that is brought forward, and add something on. It’s a balance of giving and...
How to Deal With Disruptive Students
Distance Learning

How to Deal With Disruptive Students

Keeping students focused and engaged is challenging enough in the drama classroom. It can be just as challenging trying to deal with disruptions in the virtual classroom, because you’re not...
Helping Drama Students Understand Commitment
Distance Learning

Helping Drama Students Understand Commitment

It can be difficult to get students to really feel committed to distance learning. It’s so easy for students to check out when they’re not physically present in a classroom. They may struggle with...
Teaching Life Skills Through Virtual Drama Class
Distance Learning

Teaching Life Skills Through Virtual Drama Class

We’ve talked at length on the Theatrefolk blog about how studying drama can benefit students outside the drama classroom and how students can learn and develop soft skills from working on a...
Tips for Adapting Existing Lessons
Distance Learning

Tips for Adapting Existing Lessons

How do you adapt existing lessons to a virtual environment? The goal is to adapt without reinventing the wheel, which is an added unnecessary stress. Some lesson plan elements will remain the same...
Warm-Up Game: Puppet Dance Party
Classroom Exercise

Warm-Up Game: Puppet Dance Party

Here’s a warm-up game that is a lot of fun and gets students’ energy up. It’s a plus if you and your students are studying puppetry, but it’s not necessary to have done so. This is a great warm-up...