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Use this lesson plan as an introduction to a playwriting unit. This is a two lesson plan unit. Students complete exercises that demystify and reframe the four foundational elements of the playwriting process: Warm Ups, The Idea, Character, and Conflict. These plans are grounded in the statement: “You can’t build a house without a good foundation.” In order to write plays students need to know the basics first.

Students will receive an introduction to neutral mask and explore the importance of the body as a communication medium. Students participate in three exercises that explore neutral mask: Reflecting emotion through the body, Reacting to music, and a short mime that combines an emotion and a household chore. Students will write a short reflection after the activities are completed.

To create and experience an experimental piece of drama that demonstrates the power of juxtaposition through music and interpretation. Students choose a piece of music that has a definite emotional “feel” to it. Students create a scene entirely in mime that interprets an opposing feeling.

Students will understand the use of the tableau as a theatrical device (to make a powerful statement). Students will learn to cooperate as they create both on-the-spot and semi-planned improvisations. In groups, students create a movie poster tableau for an “original movie.” After all the groups have had their turn, each group prepares and performs a scene from their movie.

Students will demonstrate their ability to use their whole body to create a character by participating in a “character walk.” Students explore how movement can be used to create a character. They will see what different body parts are used to convey character, how circumstances change how we move and how characters move differently from one another.

Students will demonstrate how to use vocal aspects in character creation. The lesson teaches students how to create a specific character voice,considering volume, rate and pitch.

Students will demonstrate their ability to project. Projection is speaking loudly without yelling. It is the technique actors use to be heard when performing without damaging their voices. Students learn how to project and practice the skill culminating in an assessed exercise.

Students will identify the elements of a good monologue through analysis and evaluation, focusing on a need to speak (Why does the character speak?), a specific character voice (Who is the character?) and a journey (Is there a beginning, middle, end?).

Lessons to cover two class periods. Students learn the elements of a Medieval Morality Play and then create their own morality play with a modern context. Includes a modern version of "Everyman" and three assessment rubrics.

Lessons cover two class periods. Students learn the elements of a Medieval Mystery Play cycle and then create their own Mystery cycle within a modern context. Includes handouts, assignment sheets, and rubrics.

This lesson diagrams the main roles in a theatre. Students complete a graphic organizer describing each of these roles and allows students to decide which job appeals to them the most. Includes a slide show.

Being able to control how much air comes out as you speak allows you to speak loudly without damaging your voice. It also lets you choose where to pause. This lesson teaches students the basics of breath support and exercises to practice controlling the breath. Students will demonstrate their ability to control their breath support by participating in a series of exercises, culminating with an attempt to say all fifty states of the union in one breath.

Students will discuss and participate in exercises that apply subtext in a conversation. The assignment for the lesson is a one minute scene - two people at a restaurant, preparing to order. Each pair chooses one of the provided subtexts to play in the scene. Their job is to present the scene so that the subtext is clear. Includes two assessment rubrics.

Students create physical and vocal attributes based on a visual - images of buildings. Students will also take turns coaching the exercise to the class to demonstrate their comprehension. Includes images and two assessment rubrics.

Students will discuss and analyze War Posters. What are the images? What is being said with those images? Describe the colours and shapes. Students will discuss how a director can use images as a jumping off point for staging. Includes five posters, assessment rubric, and analysis sheet.

Newcomers to improvisation often struggle with quick verbal responses. They get caught up with self-editing, self-judgement, and self-censorship and feel they’re failing at the exercise if they’re not fast enough. The gibberish tool allows students to practice the act of response with intention without the pressure of real words. It gives them confidence to participate in an improvised scene. Students will create a gibberish language as a group. Focus on making gibberish a language. “Yes, it sounds silly, but treat gibberish as a language.” The words don’t matter. How you say them does. Students will move to small group conversations, and finally improv scenes. Includes a list of scenarios, reflection, and assessment rubric.

This is a great exercise when students are in the middle of preparing a monologue. Students will apply variety to a monologue in the following ways: - Variety of pace (choosing a line to slow down or a place to pause) - Variety of tone (choosing a line to deliver with an opposite tone) Includes two sample monologues.

Students will learn the Rashomon plot device and put it into practice through improvised character monologues. Includes scenario sheet, assignment sheet, and assessment rubric.

Certain sounds are always connected to certain objects - the slam of a door, cowbell, a ringing phone. How does the environment change if the sounds are changed? Does the change of sound change the scene? Includes a list of websites to use for free sound effects.

Students will learn a variety of theatrical conventions and apply their knowledge in a scene. Students will use a picture as a jumping off point, use a mind map to brainstorm ideas, and create a scene using the Flashback convention. Lesson Plan includes handouts, written reflection, and two rubrics (Practical and Written).