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Creative Ideas For Teaching Drama Lessons

Where I teach, Drama is a mandatory part of the curriculum for students in Grades 1 to 8. I enjoy teaching drama, but I have heard from other teachers that they find this subject hard to plan for without a textbook or background experience. The following blog post outlines great drama lessons for your classroom. 

Below is a general outline of how to start your year and possible topics you can cover depending on the time you have for drama lessons. 

This Drama Lessons blog post contains affiliate links that are of no cost to the reader. If you make a purchase through the provided links, this blog will receive a small commission to help with the financial costs of maintaining the site.

Why Should Middle School Students Participate in Drama Lessons

At some point in your career, you might encounter a parent or a student who does not agree with drama lessons. Help them understand the value of the arts through a discussion about the value of drama skills. There are several reasons why middle school students should take drama classes:

• Boost Confidence: Drama classes can boost confidence by allowing students to express themselves in a safe environment, develop presentation skills, and use body language. 
• Develop Creativity: Drama classes can also foster creativity by encouraging students to explore different characters, scenarios, and emotions. 
• Learn Collaboration: Drama classes teach collaboration skills through group work and effective communication and teach students how to take feedback and make improvements.
• Improve Communication: Drama classes improve students’ communication skills by showing them how to express themselves clearly, listen actively, and understand others’ perspectives.

Overall, drama classes can provide students with a fun and engaging way to develop their interpersonal and presentation skills and learn about themselves.

Sample Drama Lessons Year Plan

• Brainstorm as a class how drama skills can be of benefit to other subject areas and in real life.
• Establish classroom rules together to ensure the safety of students.
• Co-create overall success criteria, then add to them for each new unit
• Explicitly teach the Elements of Drama – Role/Character, Focus, Emphasis, Place and Time, Relationship, and Tension.
•  Use Ice Breakers to get students more comfortable with drama and create a safe space.
• Use Drama Circles to get all students participating.
• Teach different drama skills through units.

Drama Lessons – Ice Breaker Suggestions

• Students share two truths about themselves and one lie, and then the class must guess which statements are true or false.
• Have students stand or sit in a circle.
• Pass around a regular classroom object like a ruler.
• The starting person says, “This is not a ruler; it is a snake,” and then acts out the snake.
• The second person takes the object and could say, “This is not a snake; it is a sword,” and acts out their chosen object. Students need to be creative.
• One student says, “I like my neighbour who [insert generic description here, e.g. is wearing shoes with laces],” and then everyone who meets that description has to get up and change seats. It is like musical chairs without music. Switch students who are saying the description each round.
• Students have to walk around the room like dinosaurs, lions, cheetahs, etc.
• Students sit in a circle and keep their ten fingers visible.
• Then the person who starts the game says something they have never done but hopes other people in the class have.
• If you have participated in the activity mentioned, then you must put down 1 of your fingers.
• Then the next person in the circle gets to say their sentence. Remind students that this needs to be suitable for school.
• This activity is an excellent way to start your year, as it gives all students a chance to participate. Here is a free drama circle .

Drama Lessons Suggestions

• Co-create scenarios with your students that they need to act out. 
• Arrange students into groups.
• Give each group a scenario and a limited amount of time to practice acting out their scenario and solution.
• Then, showcase each scenario to the class.
• Scenario 1 – Your group is baking cookies in Foods Class for the school bake sale. You guys are not paying attention and accidentally mix up the salt as sugar. One of you realizes your mistake and wants to tell the teacher. The rest refuse as they do not want to get into trouble.
• Scenario 2 -You are a happy family [parents and siblings] at the pet store, trying to decide what pet to bring home. All of you want something different. Act out this scenario and your solution.
• Scenario 3 – You are at a friend’s house, and your video game remote goes through their new TV.
• Reader’s Theatre  and Possible Reader’s Theatre Scripts
• Divide up a short novel; each group reads a section and creates a skit to present that section to the class. 
• Try Plays Magazine or Drama Notebook

Drama Lessons – Cross-Curricular Integration

• Interview an “Expert” from Science or Social Studies (Have students recap their new learning from a unit, e.g. Science or Social Studies)
• Character Hot Seat (Have one student be in the hot seat as a character from your reading material, then the rest can ask questions)
• Wax Museum (Students “become” a person from history and are completely still, they can be brought to life and become their person)
• Host a mock parliament to teach Grade 5 Government
• Read Fractured Fairy tales and then act them out
• Act out scenes from a class novel/lit circle

Drama Lessons Resources

• Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators
• Holiday Drama Lesson
• Drama Schemes, Themes & Dreams: How to Plan, Structure, and Assess Classroom Events That Engage Young Adolescent Learners by Larry Swartz and Debbie Nyman
• Dramathemes, 4th edition: Classroom Literacy that Will Excite, Surprise, and Stimulate Learning fourth edition by Larry Swartz (This is a popular book; check your school and district’s libraries for older editions.)
• More Than a Play by ETFO
• Stages: Creative Ideas for Teaching Drama, Revised 2nd Edition by Talia Pura

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Dramatic Arts Grade 8 Controlled Tests, Exam Papers and Memos, Worksheets, Lessons and Teaching Plans for CAPS

Dramatic Arts Grade 8 Question Papers, Notes, and Study Guides: 2022, 2021, 2020: Hello, Dramatic Arts Grade 8 Learner. On this section you will find Dramatic Arts Grade 8 Revision Notes and Past Exam Papers, Controlled Test, Assessments, Examination Scope for Learners, Workbooks and Worksheets, Marking Guidelines for Teachers, Exemplars and Preparatory Exam papers, Preliminary (Prelim) papers for different years, Youtube lessons for the specific lessons, Notes and more.

• Revision Notes Materials: We have gathered plenty of study notes for CAPS and IEB curriculums for: Term 1, Term 2, Term 3, and Term 4.
• Previous Exam Question Papers: Past Exam Papers include February/March, June, September, and November the following years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. Memorandum Question Papers (English and Afrikaans) Memos (English and Afrikaans). You will also find exemplars of preparatory exam papers for: Gauteng, Limpopo, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Kwazulu Natal, Mpumalanga, Free State, and North West Province.
• Study Guides and Textbooks: We have a collection of textbooks and study guides for learners who wish to pass their exams. Some a free and some you have to purchase.
• Teaching Resources: There are plenty of resources for Teachers such as CAPS Document,  Annual Teaching Plans , and Teacher Guides

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This page contains Dramatic Arts Grade 8 Annual Teaching Plan (ATP) and Teacher’s Guide for 2024. Dramatic Arts Grade 8 Annual Teaching Plan (ATP) 2024 The Annual Teaching Plan is for Dramatic Arts Grade 8 and contains a full-year annual teaching plan for Term 1, Term 2, Term 3, and Term 4. The Teacher’s Guide … Read more

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GRADE 8 DRAMA SYLLABUS

TEACHER Leanne Fulcher

COURSE DESCRIPTION :

Drama 8 (Introduction to Acting)

In this semester-length elective, students learn the focus and skills necessary to breathe life into a character. Themes include: Theater Terms, Basic Acting Skills, Movement and Masks, Characterization, Monologues and Duets, Blocking and Script Work. Students will have several opportunities to work with professional actors to help them improve their craft. Students perform improvised and scripted scenes in groups of various sizes and will learn how to offer effective critical feedback. Within a safe environment students will learn to push themselves to take creative risks, which will enhance their skills and level of confidence on and off the stage. Students will use their blog as an artistic portfolio to showcase their art and demonstrate their ability to reflect and critique their own work and that of their peers.

GOAL: To learn the focus and skills necessary to breathe life into a character.

This one-semester elective course focuses on the following themes:

* Theater Terms * Basic Acting Skills * Movement and Mask * Characterization * Monologues and Duets * Blocking and Script Work.

Theater Arts 8: POWER STANDARDS (NEW)

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS: Plastic zip pouch (supplied), Journal (supplied), name tag (supplied), pen and pencil with eraser. If a student loses their supplies they will need to replenish. Girls are reminded to dress appropriately for movement activities (No skirts) and have a hair tie handy to pull hair back during a performance.

THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE DRAMA STUDIO (S106)

Arrive on time for class, but do not enter studio unaccompanied by an adult.

Wear comfortable clothing (no skirts please!) and have hair out of face.

Remove shoes, socks, watches, and loose jewelry. Valuables can be placed in the basket.

Place books and bags out of the acting space, on tables or in provided baskets. (Laptops)

Check whiteboard for immediate directions so that class can start promptly.

Violence and rough play should not be included in scenes or behavior in the drama studio.

Language and humor should be appropriate for all audiences.

Check the drama Google calendar for homework updates.

Complete homework assignments and meet deadlines.

The prop cupboards/costumes are off limits without permission.

You learn as much from watching as from doing, so be an active audience member and be prepared to offer feedback to your peers. (Participation is 20% of your final grade)

Listen attentively and respectfully and come to class with the energy to participate actively.

Students are responsible for talking to classmates about what is missed while they are away.

Students should check the google calendar while away to make sure they are prepared for the next class so that additional time is not lost.

If a student is sick on a day of a performance, they are responsible for emailing the teacher directly to inform them of the absence as early as possible in the day. If the performance is in front of an audience this may give the teacher/group enough time to find a replacement.

Students who exceed twelve absences may receive insufficient evidence (IE) for the semester course. Families may appeal to MS Admin if extenuating circumstances exist. (SAS grading policy)

TECH INTEGRATION

Laptops are not required on a daily basis. When computers are being used, students will be told in advance and a reminder will be put on the homework calendar.

If a student brings their laptop to class, the computer should never be left outside or on the floor and should be stored safely.

iPads will be used on a regular basis in class. Students are responsible for returning iPads to the charging cabinet after use.

The grade 8 drama Google Calendar will be used to assign homework. Students are required to add this calendar to their personal calendar.

SUBMISSION OF LATE WORK

It is expected that students complete summative assessments. If a summative assessment is late, students will lose grades on responsibility, but full credit will be given for the assignment.

RE-ASSESSMENT

Teachers and PLCs will use formative assessments and reassessments to provide students opportunities to master learning targets. Re-assessment of large summative assessments (i.e., encompassing an entire unit) will be at the discretion of the PLC.

When tasks/assignments are re-assessed, they may be reassessed partially, entirely, or in a different format, as determined by the PLC.Reassessment grade replaces the original grade.

The following final measures of learning may not be reassessed:

end of unit assessments;

final research papers;

culminating performances

To help you find just what you need, I've sorted these lessons in a few different ways:

• DRAMA FROM PICTURE BOOKS:   A collection of ideas for using a picture book to start a Drama activity.  Listed first here because the ideas vary widely as to appropriate age level.
• HAND ANIMALS:   A first character game.  For first-time drama students.
• NURSERY RHYME CHARADES:   A pantomime guessing game about nursery rhymes.  For Pre-Kindergarten and up.
• A TREE GROWS:   A narrative pantomime about an apple tree growing from a seed.  For Elementary and younger.
• PAINTING THE BOX:   A narrative pantomime about personal space and visualizing colors.
• PAINTING THE MUSIC:   A narrative pantomime about emotion and drama in music and paint.
• RAINFOREST LESSONS:   A small collection of lessons and lesson variations about the rainforest. For Pre-Kindergarten and up.
• NO, YOU CAN'T TAKE ME!:   A fun game that requires critical thinking skills.  For Elementary students.
• THE LION KING'S COURT:   A role-playing game about friendship and animals.  (Nothing to do with the Disney film.)  For Elementary students.
• SEASONS AND WEATHER:   An activity that teaches younger children about seasons and weather or that can be used with older students as an improvisation game.  For Elementary and older.
• COMING TOGETHER:   A narrative pantomime about space and visualizing space, and about community and friendships.  For Elementary and older.
• THANKSGIVING FEAST:   A narrative pantomime about using our senses and the First Thanksgiving.  For Kindergarten and up.
• SAINT GEORGE AND THE DRAGON:   A pantomime project based on the famous story.  Teaches analytical thinking skills and body awareness.  For Kindergarten and up.
• RHYME CHARADES:  A game of rhymes and pantomime.  For Kindergarten and up.
• AROUND THE WORLD IN THIRTY MINUTES: An imaginary journey that teaches geography and cultures.  For Elementary students.
• BEN FRANKLIN'S INVENTIONS:   A physical creativity game.  For Elementary students.
• SCULPTURE GALLERY:   A game of posing and creating, which allows students to see the creative process from the inside and the outside.  For Elementary and older.
• MIRROR MIRROR:   A collection of mirroring exercises.  For all ages.
• PUPPETS IN THE DRAMA CLASSROOM:  A collection of puppet-making and puppetry projects.
• GUIDED IMAGERY:   Sensory awareness, imagination, story-making and concentration all are enhanced by this meditation-like activity.  For around 3d grade to adult.
• EMOTION WALK:   A big lesson about movement, body language, and the ability to consciously control our movements and the impressions we make with them.  For older Elementary through adult.
• THREE LESSONS ABOUT ENERGY:   Three lessons designed around a third-grade science unit on energy and the three states of matter.  For Elementary students.
• THE JEFFREY GAME:   A movement game of building on one anothers' ideas.  For older Elementary through adult.
• MUSICAL FREEZE IMPROVS:   An improvisation game of creative movement.  For all students.
• GROUP STORY PROJECT:   A big project.  Guides a class to cooperatively write their own original story.  Can be used to generate a story for the Group Playwriting Project.  For Elementary students.
• GROUP PLAYWRITING PROJECT:   Another big project.  Guides a class to cooperatively write their own play from an existing story.  For older Elementary students.
• NEWS PLAYS:   Supports Social Studies, History, or Current Events curricula.  Involves improvisation, group planning, and performance.  For older Elementary students.
• OREGON TRAIL PROPAGANDA:   Supports a Social Studies unit about the Oregon Trail.  Examines the nature of propaganda, as well as the nature of advertising in today's world.  For older Elementary students.
• FOURTH-GRADE PLAY:   This is not really a lesson plan.  It is a narrative description of the entire project, which took several months, by which my fourth-graders and I wrote and produced a play about the Oregon Trail. For older Elementary and up.
• SOCIAL ROLES:   A pantomime guessing game that teaches the idea of social roles within any society, and supports a Social Studies curriculum in world cultures.  For older Elementary students.
• GIBBERISH SENTENCES:   A pantomime game that explores ways to communicate without words.  Can be used as a primer to more elaborate Theatre Games, or to support a Social Studies curriculum about immigrants.  For older Elementary and up.
• THE DISCOVERY OF FIRE:   An improvised scene about early humans.  For older Elementary and up.
• RITUALS:   Students create their own magical rituals while exploring the importance of ritual to early (and modern) cultures.  For older Elementary and up.
• PAPER MASKS:   A lesson using masks to teach body language.  Can be related to a Social Studies unit on Greek Theatre.  For older Elementary and up.
• EDWENA'S GAMES:   The first of what I hope will be many pages of games and lessons from other teachers.  A collection of concentration, warm-up and improvisation games from a friend.
• THREE WORDS:   A pantomime and improvisation exercise.  For older Theatre students
• MAKE YOUR OWN GREEK PLAY:   An exercise designed to teach concepts about Classical Greek drama in a hands-on way.  For older Middle School and up.
• INSTANT JOURNEYS:   A fun and fast-paced improvisation and teamwork game.  For Middle School and up.
• STORY STORY:   A fun improvisation, storytelling and pantomime game.  For Middle School and up.
• I AM WALKING--INSTANT VERSION:   A game of cooperation and communication.  For Middle School and up.
• JOB INTERVIEW :  A wacky concentration game that makes you think on your feet.  For older Theatre students.
• CIRCLE OF CHARACTERS:   A complex and challenging game of characters and observation.  For older Theatre students.
• HANGMAN CHARADES:   Just for fun.  For Middle School and up.
• CONCEPT CHARADES:   A challenging game of improvisation and creativity .  For Advanced Middle School and up.
• WHAT WOULD YOU DO?:   An exercise for helping young actors more fully inhabit their characters.  For Middle School and up.
• SLOW MOTION WALK:   A writing exercise, really. Great for getting over writer's block.  For Middle School and up.
• IMPROVS AND WARMUPS:   A collection of warmup exercises and improvisation games collected from various places.  For older Theatre students.
• Narrative Pantomime Stories: These are lessons that involve Narrative Pantomime--a technique in which the teacher or leader tells a story and each student, usually working independently, "acts out" the story.
• Physical and Pantomime Activities: These activities all teach physical control and pantomime communication.
• Improvisation Activities: Virtually all Creative Drama involves improvisation, but these plans focus in part on building improvisation skills.
• Role Drama Activities: These lessons use the technique known as Role Drama, in which students are in role and must make choices and relate to each other in role.
• Writing Activities: These lessons focus on the writing process.
• Lesson Collections: Though listed normally on other lists, these are actually collections of related lessons, rather than individual lessons.

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GRADE 8 ARTS & CULTURE

Download free printable Grade 8 Arts and Culture Worksheets, Assignments, Tests and Projects

Art movement of Cubism

Careers in dance

Careers in drama

Careers in music

Careers in visual arts

Characterisation

Collage and montage

Creating illustrations

Dance drama for human rights

Dramatic crossword puzzle

The element of colour

The element of line

Takkie logo design

Musical terminology

Performing African fables

Performing poetry, prose and drama

Photographic documentation

Rich and poor in music

Script writing

Starting a school radio station

Stereotyping in drama

The importance of copyright

Traditional dance

Waste and art

Writing a script for stories

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