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Character Development Lesson Plans

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

Lesson 5 of 5 in Perspective Taking Unit

Final Project

by Lindsay Price

For this project, students will create a scene in groups in which everyone is given a specific perspective. Each student must present a character from their provided perspective.

# Character Development # character development
Lesson 7 of 8 in Character Analysis - Part 2 Unit

Final Rehearsal

by Matt Webster

This is it! The final rehearsal before students perform. Students focus on getting those last few lines word perfect, do final run-throughs, and reflect on the rehearsal process.

# Character Development
Lesson 8 of 10 in Unit Four: Intro to Scripted Scenes Unit

Final Scene Rehearsal

by Lindsay Johnson

Students will review the various techniques we’ve explored this unit (voice, movement, set design, projection, etc.) to convey meaning in a contentless scene. They will continue to work on their scenes and complete a Rehearsal Checklist.

  • Slide Deck
# Character Development # middle school friendly
Lesson 3 of 5 in Perspective Taking Unit

Focusing on Others

by Lindsay Price

In this lesson, students will practice identifying the perspective of others. They will think about all the elements that go into someone’s perspective (e.g., background, experience, traditions, preferences, circumstances).

# Character Development # character development

Gender and Casting

by Kerry Hishon

In this lesson students will have the opportunity to explore and discuss ideas and concepts related to gender in plays, to try making casting decisions themselves, and to consider how gender can affect how an actor portrays a character and is perceived by an audience member. Can they look beyond
the male/female binary and be thoughtful and inclusive in their casting choices?

# Character Development

How Costumes Affect Your Character - Practical Exploration

by Kerry Hishon

Students will read an article about how costume items affect their character and their physical movements onstage. Then will then apply their knowledge by preparing a brief monologue (20-30 seconds in length) and practicing it three times, each time using a different costume item. Students will then perform their monologue using one of the items they worked with. Students will become aware of the challenges that costumes can cause while performing onstage. Afterwards, students will complete a Reflection.

# Character Development # Costumes # costuming

I am a Fortress: Character Development

by Lindsay Price

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.

# Character Development # character development
Lesson 3 of 12 in The Dilemma Project Unit

Improv to Location

by Claire Broome

In this lesson, students will explore location options for their play and choose one.

  • Slide Deck Lesson 3
# Character Development
Lesson 2 of 12 in The Dilemma Project Unit

In Character and Group Set-Up

by Claire Broome

In this lesson, using the character they created in the previous lesson, students will show up to class “in character” and repeat the Magic If exercise, and choose their dilemma.

  • Slide Deck Lesson 2
# Character Development
Lesson 3 of 4 in Indigenous Symbolism in the Drama Classroom Unit

Indigenous Symbolism: Art to Drama

by Allison Green

Students expand on the previous lesson, working in small groups to begin to create theatre from art.

# Character Development # indigenous # bipoc
Lesson 2 of 4 in Indigenous Symbolism in the Drama Classroom Unit

Indigenous Symbolism: Art to Drama

by Allison Green

This lesson defines symbolism and explores Indigenous art and its characteristics.

# Character Development # indigenous # bipoc
Lesson 4 of 4 in Indigenous Symbolism in the Drama Classroom Unit

Indigenous Symbolism: Art to Drama Presentation

by Allison Green

Students will share their findings from the previous lessons, and present their interpretation of art in small groups. Options for assessment are included.

# Character Development # indigenous # bipoc
Lesson 5 of 10 in Unit Four: Intro to Scripted Scenes Unit

Intro to Blocking

by Lindsay Johnson

In this lesson, students will decide how best to include movement in their scene to help an audience understand what is happening in the scene. Students will complete a set design for their partner scene and add 3+ blocking notes to their scripts. Students will also take a Stage Directions Mini-Quiz
to demonstrate their understanding of stage directions/basic blocking notes.

  • Slide Deck
# Character Development # middle school friendly # popular
Lesson 1 of 4 in Indigenous Symbolism in the Drama Classroom Unit

Intro to Indigenous Symbolism

by Allison Green

The first day introduces the learning circle format to the class, and the story of The Two Wolves.

  • The Two Wolves Story
# Character Development # indigenous # bipoc
Lesson 1 of 10 in Unit Four: Intro to Scripted Scenes Unit

Intro to Scripts

by Lindsay Johnson

In this introductory lesson, students will be able to define “script” and “dialogue.” They will begin to brainstorm characters/relationships, setting, and conflicts to add content to a contentless scene that they will work on for the rest of the unit. Students will use a variety of methods they’ve learned in the previous unit to communicate meaning: setting, pantomime, relationship clues, objectives, stakes, and tactics.

  • Slide Deck
# Character Development # middle school friendly
Lesson 4 of 10 in Unit Four: Intro to Scripted Scenes Unit

Intro to Set and Stage Notes

by Lindsay Johnson

In this lesson, students will learn the terminology needed to identify different parts of the stage and to create a set design that uses levels in an effective and appealing way. Students create a basic kitchen set design for a kitchen set design that applies their new knowledge of stage parts, levels and scenery.

  • Slide Deck
# Character Development # middle school friendly
Lesson 7 of 10 in Unit Four: Intro to Scripted Scenes Unit

Intro to Voice Expression

by Lindsay Johnson

In this lesson, students will focus on how voice can be used to communicate character as well as to make the dialogue in the scene easily accessible to an audience. Students will give and receive feedback on their vocal clarity and expression in performance.

  • Slide Deck
# Character Development # middle school friendly
Lesson 1 of 6 in Character Creation: Superhero Series: Multi platform Unit

Introduction to Character Creation

by Lindsay Price

Students start with a name exercise and a non-human personification exercise as an introduction to character creation. The purpose is to show students some of the details that go into creating an interesting dynamic character—in action and in writing.

# Character Development # character development
Lesson 1 of 5 in Perspective Taking Unit

Introduction to Perspective Taking

by Lindsay Price

The best way to introduce a concept is through activities. Students will participate in activities that ask them to make choices and observe the choices of others. They will be introduced to the definition of perspective taking and apply that definition through discussion and a theatrical moment group work activity.

  • Slide Deck Lesson 1
# Character Development # character development

It’s all in a name: Character Building

by Lindsay Price

In this multi-class lesson plan students will construct a character from scratch. They will start with a name, decide on a physicality, come up with personality details based on that physicality and then answer interview questions in character.

# Character Development # character development