Is the circus a form of theater? Read "A City of Clowns? What Else Is New?" to sway your class that a circus, is indeed, a theatrical performance. Critical thinkers compare/contrast various forms of theater and identify what makes the...

Young scholars study Greek literature. In this Greek tragedies lesson, students explore the dance-dramas of Martha Graham. Young scholars study the choreography that brings ancient Greek literature to life.

Learners create wax sculptures of a full body using mathematical calculations and information gathered from a video in this excellent art project. The lesson can be used along or within the unit provided.

The class creates and performs a movement performance of the creation story found in the Jewish tradition. This lesson begins with the research of Israeli culture and culminates in a performance of the narrated creation story....

Use drama techniques to recreate the story, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo Lionni. They engage in problem-solving as they identify the roles they will fufill in their groups for the performance. This is a motivating way to...

As their final act in a 10-lesson theater arts unit, set designers present their models to the class and explain how their choices of line, color, and texture support the theme they wish to convey.

Where do directors and set designers get their ideas so that the set they build creates the mood and atmosphere the director wants for a production? From the script! Introduce theater high schoolers to the script analysis techniques used...

The second lesson in a unit on set design focuses on the importance of historical and stylistic research. Working in teams created in the previous session, groups consider what resources they will use as they consider design concepts for...

Bring Julius Caesar to life with a reader's theatre approach that engages the entire class. The opening exercises model the importance of reading with expression while choral reading exercises permit class members to practice their...

Students complete acting exercises as a part of a precise language activity to help them build vocabulary and improve their descriptive writing skills. In this theatre and writing lesson, students create and act out a sentence with two...

Learners discover the group dynamics necessary to produce an American musical in this six day lesson. Themes and characterization techniques are explored during collaborative small group research projects.

High schoolers are introduced to the Absurd Theatre movement. They practice using the same techniques as performers in the theater. At the end of the instructional activity, they perform for their classmates.

Students brainstorm the names of Shakespeare's plays and read an article about a new theatre. They complete worksheets about the plays. In groups, they play a game where they give clues about films or plays and others try to guess the...

Students create a tableau for a Greek myth.  In this introduction to Greek theatre lesson, students discuss the history of Greek theatre and tableau and complete a handout.  Students work in groups to choose a myth and create a...

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...

Students examine elements of Greek tragedy, specifically Oedipus Rex, and role play performance in Greek theatre. Students then draw their own theatre masks to be displayed in class.

Second graders read the story, The Bundle of Sticks, and discuss the story elements within the story; setting, plot, conflict resolution.  In this readers theater instructional activity, 2nd graders reenact the...

Sixth graders analyze the primary force that drives a character's actions in a character analysis instructional activity. In this character analysis instructional activity, 6th graders analyze how characters present their actions and...

First graders participate in reader's theatre. In this drama instructional activity, 1st graders choose a Scholastic play and use stick masks to perform the story. The students are videotaped and analyze their performance

Students perform dramatic monologues. In this drama lesson, students write their own monologue and perform it in front of their peers.

Second graders identify story elements in familiar stories from their lives. In this story elements lesson, 2nd graders act out familiar activities  by following directions. Students read a story and discuss the story elements....

Students act like a famous explorer. In this explorer lesson, students research an explorer and act out persuasive arguments in which that explorer might be involved.

Students investigate cultural traditions. In this multi-cultural instructional activity, students discuss various cultures and research their traditions.

Students research how the capture of a German submarine by the Allies affected the outcome of WWII. In this WWII instructional activity, students complete a KWL chart. Students research primary source documents online and answer...