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A meme/gif based short intro to multiple acting teachers. Used as a starting point for the Acting Teachers Research Project.

In this unit, students created their superhero/alter ego character with a backstory and then created a wand with special powers. They wrote the back story and built the wand. This unit works well for online learning. Good for Grade 6-8 Focus: Thinking Creatively, Elements of Design, Prop building

Here's another example of a rehearsal checklist to use with middle schoolers. This one involves student directed partner scenes, with focus on character movement.

Here is the second of the three rubrics I created to use for my typical daily short writing assignments. This one is for a more in depth writing/response class daily prompt. They may have 10-15 minutes for this one to respond to a prompt of some kind: a quote, question, paragraph, video, or picture. The 3 simple rubrics I am sharing here have taken the place of the old-school Check Plus, Check, and Check Minus type of grading. And as you can see, I can grade things fairly quickly using this.

Here is the third of the three rubrics I created to use for my typical writing assignments. This one is for the more in-depth reflection response and the student have much more time to complete it that the 10 minutes or so of the other ones I shared. It still allows me to grade things fairly quickly using this!

This rubric works for the end of a Costume Design and Construction unit. By looking at the criteria, you can see where the unit takes the students from start to finish.

By using an application, I have found it helps bring forward only those who are serious about the commitment, since they have to take the time to fill out an application! You can simply adjust the "available positions" as you need per production. I do not accept late applications, and like with auditions, unfortunately not everyone is guaranteed a position on any given show.

The safety contract within this lesson provides a way to establish a supportive, positive, and open environment in the classroom. It immediately gets the students invested and accountable. Once written, you can refer back to it as a class as often as needed for reflection and/or behavior adjustment purposes. The activity may work even better using the Affinity Mapping strategy.

An evening where our Thespians run a night of DRAMA activities for Elementary School Students. We put the students in groups (based on their grade level) and each group had 3 PAJAMA PARTY PALS who were with them ALL EVENING (for safety and consistency.) The groups rotate between the cafeteria (CRAFT-ATERIA for craft activites), the Theatre Room for small table games, and the Stage for creating a short play with your group. In between each activity change, ALL the kids came onstage for a DANCE & FREEZE party and a large group game of Ships & Sailors. At the end of the evening, all the Thespians working the activity centers came on stage to put on an Improv show (using audience ideas) for our "audience" of students and parents who came to pick up their students! We charged $25 a student. Had pizza, juice boxes, and desserts donated by parents.

Here's a great tool for students who are struggling with memorization. It can also be a way to make sure students who aren't rehearsing are using their time well.

This is a simple assessment my students can do after watching a required production. It is designed to get them to identify discuss concepts they have learned, as well as help instill an appreciation of theatre.

This is a simple assessment students can do after reading a script, as an alternate assignment to attending a production.

This unit takes students though shading, basic corrective, and old age makeup.

This is how I organize my lesson planning.

In this scene assignment, 2 actors are working with 1 director in groups of 3. Actors are working on adding level changes to each page in their script. Before this rehearsal, they played the warm up game where no one can be at the same level at the same time (if someone stands, the person already standing has to come up with a reason to sit / lay down, etc.)

This is a sample of one of my rehearsal schedules for a full length play

Here is a sample of a rehearsal schedule for my production team on a full length play.

A worksheet to help students organize their thoughts for giving feedback on performances

This is a sample of a Standards Based Grading style scale. This is not a true Marzano scale based on the most current information. This is what I am using based on the levels that my school had adopted. True Marzano Scales would have a 0, .5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4. The .5s would be if they are partially in the higher and partially in the lower.

Here is the series of 6 lessons I created for my scenic design unit. My students have no prior experience with scenic design. You can use whatever play is appropriate for your group, but I tend to use very short ones since I want to be able to focus more of the time on the design process rather than reading a longer play.