Character Development Lesson Plans

Rejection through Movement and Character

by Lindsay Price

Learning to deal with rejection and turn rejection into a positive motivator is a lifelong skill. In this multi-class lesson, students will reflect on and discuss their views on rejection, theatricalize that view through movement, research someone who has found success only after rejection and failure, and theatricalize that information.

# Character Development # Movement # Reflection # movement # reflection # character development

Research, Analyze, and Respond: Jagged Little Pill and the Character of Jo

by Drama Teacher Academy

Students will research the character of Jo from the musical Jagged Little Pill. The character, allegedly, started out as nonbinary and was changed to cisgender for the Broadway run. When
confronted with this change, those involved with the production stated that Jo was always intended to be cisgender and was written as cisgender. This confused many in the LGBTQ+ community. What is the background to this situation? What is the origin story to the character and the actor playing the character? Why did the creative team react the way they did and what was the response to their reaction? Who is right? Students will research, analyze, and come to their own conclusions and then express their conclusions in a response.

Blank Grid for Circle of Trust exercise
Social Awareness Document

# Character Development # LGBTQ+

Research, Analyze, and Respond: West Side Story and the Character of Anybodys

by Drama Teacher Academy

Students will research how the character of Anybodys was changed from a tomboy in the original West Side Story movie (and musical) to a transgender character (played by nonbinary actor iris
menas) in the 2021 Steven Spielberg version. Students will research the change through articles and video and come to their own conclusions about the change. Students will then apply what they have learned by creating their own scenes with a character change.

Social Awareness Document

# Character Development # LGBTQ+

Lesson 10 of 12 in The Dilemma Project Unit

Revision Rehearsals

by Claire Broome

In this lesson, we will discuss revision rehearsals, which are such an important part of the creative process. This is an opportunity for students to develop their critical thinking and apply this to their performance.

Slide Deck Lesson 10

# Character Development

Lesson 9 of 10 in Unit Four: Intro to Scripted Scenes Unit

Scene Performance Assessment

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. Students will perform their final partner scene for assessment in front of the class. They will also completed an audience feedback sheet where they give their peers feedback on Rubric skills.

Slide Deck

# Character Development # middle school friendly

Lesson 3 of 5 in Character Analysis - Part 1 Unit

Scoring and Beats

by John Minigan

To introduce the idea of “objective/goal, obstacle, and action/tactic” to simple scenes by scoring those scenes and playing the scored text.

Slide Deck Lesson 3

# Character Development # analysis

Lesson 2 of 8 in Character Analysis - Part 2 Unit

Scoring, Beats and Action Words

by Matt Webster

Students will score their scene and identify the beats and action words, and then they will start to physicalize their analysis. This is a review lesson as they learned about scoring in Part 1.

Slide Deck Lesson 2

# Character Development

Lesson 1 of 8 in Character Analysis - Part 2 Unit

Script Analysis

by Matt Webster

Students will begin their staging journey through script analysis. They will read the scene, identify some general knowledge that will help them play the scene, and do a close reading of their scene.

Slide Deck Lesson 1

# Character Development

Lesson 8 of 12 in The Dilemma Project Unit

Script Revisions and Script Analysis in Rehearsal

by Claire Broome

In this lesson, we will explore ways to have the class rehearse while making changes to their scripts.

Slide Deck Lesson 8

# Character Development

Lesson 7 of 12 in The Dilemma Project Unit

Script Sharing and Feedback

by Claire Broome

In this lesson, students will share their scripts and provide feedback to each other. Groups will write down their feedback and make a next steps list for revision.

Slide Deck Lesson 7

# Character Development

Lesson 6 of 12 in The Dilemma Project Unit

Script Writing and Revision

by Claire Broome

Using a specific method of timed sessions and movement breaks, groups will write the first draft of their plays. They will then revise, change, and edit the draft using the same method.

Slide Deck Lesson 6

# Character Development

SEL Lesson: Analyzing Character Choice

by Drama Teacher Academy

In this lesson, students will consider what would happen if a character made a different choice within the context of their story. Students will work in groups to identify and analyze a decision made within the text by a character and then think creatively about what the characters might have done differently. They will then create and perform a scene demonstrating the character’s different choice.

If you’re looking to incorporate Social and Emotional Learning in your drama classroom, this lesson would fit well into a discussion about responsible decision-making. This exercise can be done individually, in pairs, or in small groups.

Monster Problems script

# Character Development # social emotional learning

SEL Lesson: New Relationships

by Drama Teacher Academy

In this lesson, students will start by working individually to either create and analyze a new character or to analyze an existing character. Then, with a partner (who has their own character), they’ll figure out a scenario where the two characters would meet and form some sort of relationship.

If you’re looking for a way to apply Social and Emotional Learning in the drama classroom, in this case building relationship skills, this is an active and theatrical way to do so.

# Character Development # social emotional learning

SEL Lesson: Self-Awareness Character Study

by Drama Teacher Academy

If you want to incorporate Social and Emotional Learning into a play study unit, use this lesson. Students discuss self-awareness and apply it by analyzing characters in a play they are currently studying. Seeing fictional character examples will help students gain a deeper understanding of the concept of self-awareness. This can be done as a class, individually, in partners, or in smal groups. It can be done in person, virtually via distance learning, or as a written homework assignment.

# Character Development # social emotional learning

Lesson 1 of 7 in Scene Work: Part 1, Tools of Scene Work Unit

Session 1: Introduction

by Lindsay Price

Students create a situation from a picture and examine the given clues to help fill in the gaps. Students then examine the clues in a contentless scene, fill in the gaps, and create their own scenario to perform.

Session 1 Slide Deck

# Character Development # scene work

Lesson 1 of 12 in Scene Work: Part 2, Student Self Staging Unit

Session 1: Script Analysis - The Basics

by Lindsay Price

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

Session 1 Slide Deck

# Character Development # scene work

Lesson 10 of 12 in Scene Work: Part 2, Student Self Staging Unit

Session 10: Removing Actor-Driven Movement

by Lindsay Price

The rehearsal period is coming to a close, and it’s almost time to present. In this rehearsal, students will share their scene with another group with the specific focus of examining it for actor-driven movement rather than character-driven movement: shuffling your weight back and forth between your feet, playing with your hair, vaguely gesturing with your hands, etc.

Session 10 Slide Deck

# Character Development # scene work

Lesson 11 of 12 in Scene Work: Part 2, Student Self Staging Unit

Session 11: Final Rehearsal

by Lindsay Price

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

# Character Development # scene work

Lesson 12 of 12 in Scene Work: Part 2, Student Self Staging Unit

Session 12: Performing the Scene

by Lindsay Price

Students perform their scene and complete a post-performance reflection.

# Character Development # scene work

Lesson 2 of 12 in Scene Work: Part 2, Student Self Staging Unit

Session 2: Script Analysis - Close Reading

by Lindsay Price

When analyzing a script, you want students to do a close reading, multiple times, and mine the text for as much information as possible. It’s important to know who your character is, why they act the way they do, and, most importantly, how you can physicalize all your newfound knowledge. At the end of each read, students identify possible staging ideas for their character and for the plot.

Session 2 Slide Deck

# Character Development # scene work