John F. Kennedy Center
Folktale Theatre
Introduce your middle schoolers to a performance and movement activity that uses their favorite stories from fairytales and folklore. They practice basic acting skills, create dialogues with a partner, and then as guided practice,...
Roald Dahl
Matilda - The New Home
Matilda finally gets her happy ending with a new home with Miss Honey. But first, Mr. Wormwood goes on trial for his wrong doings and bad car sales. Class members take on the role of a character in the trial and participate in a role...
Curated OER
A Way with Words or Say What?
Students explore the language of Shakespeare. In this literature lesson, students examine words invented by Shakespeare as they interpret their meanings in drawings. Students pantomime the meanings and then write a short story...
Curated OER
Cheerful Hearts and Willing Feet
Students explore characterization in Little Women. In this literature lesson, students participate in written analysis and research in order to explore Alcott's characterization in the novel.
Curated OER
Creating Plays from Children's Stories
Students explain how individual elements (e.g., plot, theme, character, conflict, etc.) comprise the structure of a play. They write an original one-act play with developed characters, specific setting, conflict, and resolution.
Curated OER
Scenarios: Beginning, Middle (incidents), End
Students investigate writing scenarios that can be performed. They examine the parts and levels of scenarios that can actually be performed.
Curated OER
Olympic Athletes and Moments in Time
Students examine the history of the Olympics and their athletes. In this interviewing skills activity, students role play the parts of reporters and athletes as they conduct interviews based on research of the Olympic games and athletes.
Curated OER
A Report From the 21st Century - Mark Twain
Students look at Twain, the humorist - considered America's favorite storyteller and the funniest man in the world at the time. Students stretch the truth about a personal experience, and consider how delivery affects impact.
Curated OER
Night on Bald Mountain
Students use appropriate terms to reflect a working knowledge of the musical elements. Then they use terminology from music and other arts to analyze and compare the structures of musical and other artistic and literary works. Students...
Curated OER
Character Education Podcasts
Students study character traits. In this character education lesson, students create podcasts highlighting a particular character trait. Students broadcast one podcast per week.
Curated OER
Tableau
Second graders view a video from United Streaming and design still frames of important parts of a story. In this story-telling from different cultures lesson, 2nd graders understand general vocabulary about performing. Students pose to...
Curated OER
Theatre Lesson Plan- Tableau (part 2)
Young scholars explore tableaux. In this social studies and fine arts cross curriculum lesson, students work in groups of four to create "frozen" stage pictures (tableaux) representing vocabulary and concepts from a "From Farm to You"...
Curated OER
Animal Farm - The Rest of the Story
Students participate in a reader's theater using farm animals in the novella Animal Farm. In this Animal Farm lesson plan, students evaluate interpretations using the text, personal experience, and historical events.
Curated OER
Creating Opera
Learners study the how music enhances drama in opera. They work in small groups to develop a short story that would be enhanced with music, costumes and props. They perform their operas for classmates and others.
Curated OER
VH1 Storytellers for Save the Music Starring Billy Joel
Learners use a Billy Joel song to write a scenerio about it.
Curated OER
Understanding Justice, Kindness and Tolerance
Ninth graders consider the implications of racism and prejudice. In this character education activity, 9th graders participate in a classroom activity that requires them to consider how self-deception and self-betrayal contribute to racism.
Curated OER
Structures on a Light Station
Students identify structures needed for a lighthouse station. Groups of students create structures at a lighthouse station with their bodies. Pairs of students create structures found at the Fenwick Island Lighthouse Station circa 1861.
Curated OER
Disorders of the Brain
Students, in groups, conduct research about a specific disorder of the brain, create a character study of a person with that brain disorder, and then present the information to the rest of the class.
Curated OER
Greek Theatre Styles
Seventh graders are introduced to the different styles of Greek theatres. As a class they discuss the level of sophistication in different areas and the purpose of the theater. To end the lesson, they practice the techniques of the...
Curated OER
Dust Bowl Depression
Students examine the Dust Bowl and the impact it made on farm families. In this U. S. history lesson, students role play a writer searching for a family that moved during the Great Depression. Students uncover what prompted families to...
Curated OER
Storymaking Through Pantomime
Learners explore performing arts by participating in a role-play activity. In this storytelling lesson, students utilize their physical expressions to particpate in a pantomime performance. Learners evaluate performances in their class...
Curated OER
Status Games
Tenth graders, in groups, participate in a simulation activity in which they are assigned a certain "status" role to play in a given situation. After the simulation, they reveal their status roles and discuss what they observed. They...
Curated OER
Word Bank; Theater
Pupils are given a word bank relating to theater. In this word bank lesson, students are introduced to a list of words and their definitions. Pupils then build their vocabulary regarding theatrical concepts.
Curated OER
Natural Selection
Students model natural selection by using various utensils to "capture food" using a simulated species called "Woolybooger's."