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Acting Lesson Plans

A library of lesson plans to help you effectively plan your workshops and classes.

Lesson 5 of 6 in Virtual Introduction to Stanislavski Unit

Rehearsals

by Drama Teacher Academy

Students will put into action the Stanislavski principles, superobjective, and scene scores as they rehearse their scenes for performance. In these classes students will work through planning, blocking, specific details, a line check, and a final runthrough before the performance.

# Acting
Lesson 5 of 6 in Improvisation Unit

Relax, Have Fun and Don’t Force the Humour

by Karen Loftus

Students discuss what it means to not “force” the humour. They play all the games from the unit in a high risk setting, as volunteers in front of the class.

  • Slide Deck Lesson 5
# Acting # improv # acting
Lesson 13 of 15 in Scene Staging Unit

Removing Actor-Driven Movement

by Lindsay Price

In this rehearsal, students will share their scenes with another group with the specific focus of examining it for actor-driven movement rather than character-driven movement: shuffling their weight back and forth between their feet, playing with their hair, vaguely gesturing with their hands, etc.

  • Slide Deck Lesson 13
# Acting
Lesson 2 of 4 in Voice Unit

Resonance

by Karen Loftus

Students learn about the resonators and use them in an exercise.

# Acting # voice # acting

Rock Paper Scissors Status

by Karen Loftus

In this exercise, students will learn about the concept of status and how it affects character interactions. Using the good old
system of “Rock, papers, scissors”, they’ll determine who moves up and down the status ladder.

# Acting # acting # character development

Same Lines, Different Meanings

by Kerry Hishon

The objective of this lesson is for students to explore different ways of analyzing text, to make their character’s lines rich and full of emotion and meaning. This lesson provides three exploratory exercises (which can be used individually as desired) as well as a culminating assignment.

# Acting # acting # character development
Lesson 2 of 6 in The Actor in Transition: From Presentational to Three-Dimensional Unit

Scores and Beats

by John Minigan

This lesson introduces the idea of “Objective/Goal, Obstacle, and Action/Tactic” to simple scenes by scoring those scenes and playing the scored text.

# Acting # acting
Lesson 4 of 6 in Introduction to Stanislavski Unit

Scoring the Script and Actions

by Drama Teacher Academy

Students will get more instruction in scoring their scene. They will first define a super objective for their character, then break down the scene into beats. They will learn about defining those beats with compelling active verbs which should translate into strong actions and interesting acting choices in rehearsal.

# Acting
Lesson 4 of 6 in Virtual Introduction to Stanislavski Unit

Scoring the Script and Actions

by Drama Teacher Academy

Students will get more instruction in scoring their scene. They will first define a super objective for their character, then break down the scene into beats. They will learn about defining those beats with compelling active verbs which should translate into strong actions and interesting acting choices in rehearsal.

# Acting
Lesson 2 of 15 in Scene Staging Unit

Script Analysis: Close Reading

by Lindsay Price

Students will do a close reading of the text, multiple times, to mine for as much information as possible. At the end of each read, students identify possible staging idea for their character and for the plot.

  • Slide Deck Lesson 2
# Acting
Lesson 4 of 15 in Scene Staging Unit

Script Analysis: Scoring

by Lindsay Price

The last script analysis step is scoring. To score a scene means to divide the dialogue into beats and then add action words for each beat. Scoring gives students another avenue for exploratory blocking.

  • Slide Deck Lesson 4
# Acting
Lesson 1 of 15 in Scene Staging Unit

Script Analysis: The Basics

by Lindsay Price

Students will begin their staging journey by compiling the basics of the scene. They will read the scene and identify some general knowledge that will help them in the rehearsal process.

# Acting
Lesson 2 of 7 in Tools of Scene Work Unit

Show and Tell Characterization

by Anna Porter

Students will use “Show and Tell” to create a detailed background for their contentless scene character and improvise a personal interview with that character.

# Acting # acting # scene work

Six-Second Scenes

by Kerry Hishon

Can you tell a great story in six minutes? How about in six seconds? You definitely can. Prior to TikTok, there was Vine—a short-form video hosting app where users created and shared six-second-long looping videos. Even within the limit of six seconds, creators were able to make fascinating and funny content to entertain and educate their viewers.

The following lesson challenges students to make a scene and tell a story in only six seconds. They have to make quick, precise decisions and get to the point right away. And, of course, they have tobe clear and easily understood by the audience. Your students can choose to either create and perform a live six-second scene or create, film, and edit a six-second video.

  • Storyboard
# Acting # scene work # acting
Lesson 5 of 7 in Tools of Scene Work Unit

Stage Business

by Anna Porter

Students will participate in an observation activity and play “What Are You Doing?” to explore how stage business affects performance. In this lesson, you will coach students through a scene with stage business, then they will apply stage business to their own performances.

# Acting # acting # scene work
Lesson 2 of 3 in Stage Movement Unit

Stage Directions

by Karen Loftus

Students identify the stage directions and actor needs to know onstage and the necessary shorthand notation for each. They then apply their knowledge in an exercise and exit slip.

  • Slide Deck Lesson 2
# Acting # acting
Lesson 9 of 15 in Scene Staging Unit

Stage Pictures

by Lindsay Price

In this lesson, students explore a variety of ways to create dynamic staging pictures when blocking a scene. They will discuss the results and reflect on whether or not what they’ve learned should be added to their blocking.

# Acting
Lesson 1 of 6 in Introduction to Stanislavski Unit

Stanislavski and "The Method"

by Drama Teacher Academy

Students will be introduced to the history and background of Stanislavski, the Method of Physical Action and why he developed the method as a way of playing a character. Moving on, students will be introduced to the principles and techniques of the method. Students will also receive the scene they will work on for the entire unit.

# Acting
Lesson 1 of 6 in Virtual Introduction to Stanislavski Unit

Stanislavski and "The Method"

by Drama Teacher Academy

Students will be introduced to the history and background of Stanislavski, the Method of Physical Action and why he developed the method as a way of playing a character. Moving on, students will be introduced to the principles and techniques of the method. Students will also receive the scene they will work on for the entire unit.

# Acting
Lesson 1 of 14 in Commedia dell'Arte Unit

Status

by Todd Espeland

This lesson introduces the first tool: status. Students will physically perform high and low status through status walks.

# Acting # commedia