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Character Development

110 Lesson Plans to help you effectively plan your workshops and classes

Part of Character Analysis - Part 2 Unit

Memorization Techniques

by Matt Webster

This session will focus on practicing a variety of memorization techniques.
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# Character Development
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Monologue Character Beyond the Norm

by Drama Teacher Academy

Students will reflect on common societal norms and expectations. Who decided these norms? Why do we follow them? What happens when we don’t? They will then write a monologue for a character who doesn’t fit within the common societal norms and expectations construct.
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# Character Development # LGBTQ+
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Part of Character Creation: Superhero Series: Multi platform Unit

Monologues, Scenes, and More

by Lindsay Price

Students will spend this lesson writing for their three characters (superhero, sidekick, villain) before choosing one for their culminating assignment. This lesson provides a number of options in terms of scene writing, design, and improv for you to choose from
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# Character Development # character development
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Neutral Mask

by Stephanie-Ann Cocking

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.
# Character Development
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Nigerian Praise Poem

by Desiree Dabney

In this lesson, students will create and perform their own “Nigerian Praise Poem.” Students will be able to express physically, verbally, and emotionally and think critically about who they are and what makes them unique.
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# Character Development # bipoc
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Part of Perspective Taking Unit

Nonverbal Communication

by Lindsay Price

In this lesson, students will explore nonverbal communication. How do students determine what others are thinking and feeling? Can they read body language and other forms of nonverbal communication? When they look at a photo can they identify what someone is thinking?
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# Character Development # character development
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Object/Emotion Monologue

by Stephanie-Ann Cocking

Students will practice speaking in front of their peers as they explore personification and emotion in a monologue. After seeing a model exercise, Students choose an object and an emotion as the base for their monologue. Students play the part of the object and decide on a story that explains why they feel their current emotion. Students demonstrate stage presence, vocal presence and creating a relevant story.
# Character Development # monologue
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Objectives

by Elisabeth Oppelt

A character’s objective is what a character wants. It is based in what they want from another person, using the formula “I want [person] to do [thing I want them to do.]” The objective is what drives all of their action while on stage. In this lesson students will learn what objectives are and how to write one for a character.
# Character Development # character development # analysis
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Part of Unit Four: Intro to Scripted Scenes Unit

Open Body and Blocking Review

by Lindsay Johnson

In this lesson, students will review the “open body” element of projection. Using this technique, students will make it easier for audiences to see and understand their actions in the scene.
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# Character Development # middle school friendly
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Part of Character Development with an Indigenous Perspective Unit

Open, Neutral Scenes

by Allison Green

A final step can be used as an evaluation of student understanding of the character traits presented in the Seven Grandfather Teachings by approaching an Open, Neutral Scene. Students are paired and given one of the open, neutral scenes included in this unit. Neutral scenes can have dictated conflict or character traits added to them by the teacher for students, but in the most “open” sense, allow students to develop the story and create strong focused characters.
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# Character Development # bipoc
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Part of Character Analysis - Part 2 Unit

Performing the Scene

by Matt Webster

Students perform their scenes and complete a post-performance reflection.
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Part of Perspective Taking Unit

Perspective Taking and Characters

by Lindsay Price

In this lesson, students will analyze characters, identify their perspectives, and demonstrate perspective taking by understanding their points of view.
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# Character Development # character development
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Part of The Dilemma Project Unit

Plot Outline

by Claire Broome

Before students start writing their script, they will develop a plot outline using the points of plot development. They will review the conventions of script writing and the criteria for the project.
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# Character Development
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Part of Unit Four: Intro to Scripted Scenes Unit

Posters

by Lindsay Johnson

8 posters for the drama classroom, to support the objectives of the Introduction to Scripted Scenes unit.
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# Character Development # poster # middle school friendly
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Preparing a Scene

by Lindsay Price

What tools do students need to properly prepare a scene? What exercises? This multi-class lesson plan models and practices those tools and exercises with the full class before they have to take on a scene for assessment.
# Character Development # Acting # acting # character development
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Part of Character Analysis - Part 1 Unit

Project

by Matt Webster

To demonstrate comprehension and understanding of content and concepts through the analysis and performance of an open scene.
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# Character Development # analysis
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Part of Character Analysis - Part 2 Unit

Purposeful Action

by Matt Webster

Students will review their blocking choices with a specific objective of making every action in the scene purposeful and theatrical.
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Question Your Character (Without Judgement)

by Kerry Hishon

To consider the difference between thinking critically about a character and judging a character.
# Character Development # character development
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Reflection in Role: Character Development Through Script Analysis

by Lindsay Price

Playwrights leave hints and tips in the text as signposts for character building. But how do you find those hints? How do you use them to develop a character? In this lesson plan, students will examine scenes from my plays, identify character development clues, and apply those clues. The included teaching script will show you those character clues so you know what students are looking for. The Scenes are included in the plan as well as a reflection rubric. The analysis areas are: facts and concrete assumptions, sentence structure, and strong forms need strong characters.
# Character Development # character development # analysis
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Part of The Dilemma Project Unit

Rehearsal and Previews

by Claire Broome

In this lesson, students will complete a line test, rehearse with specific goals, and present a preview performance.
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