Theatre History Lesson Plans
A library of lesson plans to help you effectively plan your workshops and classes.
19th Century Actors on Acting: Cushman, Booth, Jefferson
by Lindsay Price
This lesson plan looks at three 19th century actors: Charlotte Cushman, Edwin Booth, and Joseph Jefferson. All three were heralded as “stars” and were well known in their time. Students will learn some information about each, read letters in which they talk about acting, and reflect on what they’ve learned.
19th Century Actors on Acting: Cushman, Booth, Jefferson
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Absurdism
by Wendy-Marie Martin
This lesson enters the last and final -ism for the unit, with a focus on five iconic absurdist playwrights: Beckett, Ionesco, Genet, Pinter, and Albee.
- Anti-Realism Movement Characteristics Overview
Absurdism
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Ancient Greek Theatre Vocabulary Research Activity
by Angel Borths
Students will be able to identify elements of Ancient Greek Theatre through a group research activity.
- Ancient Greek Theatre Vocabulary - Part One
Ancient Greek Theatre Vocabulary Research Activity
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Ancient Greek Theatre: Presentation Project
by Lindsay Price
This is the project section of the Ancient Greek Theatre unit. Divide students into groups, then give them an information sheet on their subject. Their job is to present the information in a theatrical manner to the class, create an activity that the class can do as a whole, and write a reflection/exit slip for the class to complete.
Within this unit students are given three to four class periods to work on their presentations. Instruct each group to divide up tasks evenly within their group, so that they can meet the deadline. You can certainly give them more time, or establish that students must spend time working on the project outside of class. Depending on the size of your class, it may take one or two classes to complete the presentations.
Ancient Greek Theatre: Presentation Project
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Ancient Greek Theatre: It's All Greek to Me
by Lea Marshall
This hyperdoc unit is designed to have students independently discover Ancient Greek Theatre. The unit is broken down into nine sections with multiple activities and includes a culminating activity.
Aristotle's 6 Elements of Drama
by Angel Borths
Students will be able to identify Aristotle’s 6 Elements of Drama and analyze their application to modern theatre and media.
- Aristotle Handout
- Aristotle's 6 Elements of Drama
Aristotle's 6 Elements of Drama
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Artaud and Grotowski
by Ruthie Tutterow
Students will learn about two practitioners of avant-garde theatre. They will then reimagine a common fairy tale in the style of either Artaud or Grotowski, or a combination thereof. In doing so, they will acquaint themselves with non-realistic theatre production techniques.
- Techniques of Artaud and Grotowski
- Slide Deck: Antonin Artaud - Theatre of Cruelty
- Slide Deck: Jerzy Grotowski
Artaud and Grotowski
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Boal and Forum Theatre
by Ruthie Tutterow
Students will use a few of Boal’s group warm-ups and participate in Forum Theatre to help them work out issues of importance to them. Through this, they can also see new ways of using theatre to address group dynamics and social issues.
- Slide Deck: Augusto Boal
Boal and Forum Theatre
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Bunraku, Discussion, and Reflection
by Drama Teacher Academy
In this lesson, students will be introduced to the elements of Bunraku and, if you choose, discuss the theatre of the unit and complete a unit reflection.
- Slide Deck: Bunraku
Bunraku, Discussion, and Reflection
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Censorship in the 18th Century
by Drama Teacher Academy
In this lesson, students will explore the impact of censorship on an era of theatre and create a theatrical moment using a specific censorship prompt.
- Slide Deck: 18th Century Theatre
- Censorship Activities
Censorship in the 18th Century
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Characters in the Comedy of Manners
by Lindsay Price
The Comedy of Manners is a style of comedy that uses satire to highlight the behaviours, actions, fashions, and “manners” of a segment of society. Students will explore characters in the comedy of manners and then create a comedy of manners character profile with one of the characters from The
Importance of Being Earnest.
Characters in the Comedy of Manners
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Chinese Opera
by Marsha Walner
Students explore Chinese opera and how some of what culture values can be seen in an exaggerated way on stage.
Chinese Opera
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Chinese Opera
by Drama Teacher Academy
In this lesson, students will be introduced to Chinese opera and apply their knowledge through a choice board of activities.
- Slide Deck: Chinese Opera
Chinese Opera
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Compare and Contrast: Theatre spaces
by Lindsay Price
Theatre spaces have changed throughout history, from the outdoor amphitheatres of Ancient Greece to the black box of modern times. In this lesson plan, students will identify what makes a theatre space in a specific era and then compare and contrast two different theatre spaces.
Compare and Contrast: Theatre spaces
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Context Clues
by Karen Loftus
Students review context clues and apply it to the Prologue from Romeo and Juliet.
- Slide Deck Lesson 3
Context Clues
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Creating a Commedia Character
by Drama Teacher Academy
Students will work through a process to create a commedia character.
- Slide Deck: Stock Characters
- Commedia Compendium
Creating a Commedia Character
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Crime Scene Clues
by Karen Loftus
Students apply their knowledge of context clues to find meaning in the Tomb Scene from Romeo and Juliet.
- Slide Deck Lesson 5
Crime Scene Clues
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Culminating Activities
by Drama Teacher Academy
Decide how students will demonstrate their knowledge of the unit. You can choose to have all your students do the same activity or allow students to choose from the provided activities to demonstrate their knowledge. You could also give students the choice to create their own assignment to demonstrate how they have mastered the content.
- Culminating Activity Descriptions and Rubrics
- Culminating Activity Quiz and Reflection
Culminating Activities
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Culminating Activity
by Drama Teacher Academy
Decide how students will demonstrate their knowledge of the unit. A variety of activities are provided. You can choose to have all your students do the same activity, or allow students to choose how they demonstrate their knowledge. Rubrics are provided for each activity.
- Culminating Activities Descriptions and Rubrics
- Culminating Activities Quiz and Reflection
Culminating Activity
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Culminating Activity
by Drama Teacher Academy
Students will take everything they’ve learned and put together a mystery play cycle.
- Culminating Activity Quiz and Reflection
Culminating Activity
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