Teaching Drama: the Essential Handbook


Book Description

"16 ready-to-go lessons plans to build better actors."




Teaching Musical Theatre


Book Description

Need a little help taking your musical theatre classes to the next level? Introducing Teaching Musical Theatre: The Essential Handbook, a new resource packed with 16 ready-to-go lesson plans that will turn your young performers into musical theatre triple-threats. This book is the highly anticipated follow-up to Teaching Drama: The Essential Handbook which has sold over 10,000 copies worldwide. With this book you'll receive: A semester's worth of cumulative lessons perfect for students age 7-14 Notes on how to introduce musical theatre concepts in a way kids will instantly absorb Tips and tools on easy ways to transition between activities and lessons A guide on how to plan a performance at the end of the semester Useful reflection and journaling exercises after every lesson. Below are just a few of the topics covered in the lessons: What is musical theatre? Students will explore the origin of musical theatre and the shows that have defined the genre. Storytelling in Musicals. Students will learn about the "emotional staircase" and how it's the basis of storytelling in musical theatre. Music in Musicals. Students will develop an understanding of how music is used to convey character and emotion, and how that understanding can help strengthen and inform their acting choices. Singing Musical Theatre. Students will develop an understanding of proper singing technique and how to use their voice to captivate an audience. Dance and Movement. Students will learn how dance and movement contribute to musical storytelling and become familiar with basic choreography. Acting the Song. Students will understand the importance of "acting a song" as opposed to just "performing a song", and learn how to give nuanced, compelling performances. And much more!




How To Teach Drama To Kids


Book Description

If you want to learn how to teach drama to kids, then get "How to Teach Drama To Kids" written by a person with real life experience teaching drama to children. This guide, “How to Teach Drama to Kids” will take someone unsure of the main principles of teaching theatre arts to various ages, through the basic categories and components principally considered to be the heart of the study of Drama. Whether you are a music or English teacher hired to teach a semester of Drama, or an actor commissioned to do a series of children’s workshops, this guide will take you through a stage-by-stage process including exercises for the under 10 age group, the pre-teens, and the high-school ages. The author adds her own tips for making particularly challenging games or exercises “work,” and presents her own hints for keeping your resources and equipment to an inexpensive and manageable budget. With chapters from the basics of “Movement,” “Voice,” “Improvisation,” “Role-Playing” and “Scene Work” to the more intricate additions of “Story-Telling,” “Puppetry” “Stage-Fighting” and “Chorus-Line Dancing Steps,” this guide is broken down so that you may choose to eliminate certain chapters from your planning or to add the author’s hints for extending an exercise to make it last longer and to be more enriching to the students. About the Expert With her first on-stage appearance at age 4, her first leading role at age 11 and her professional stage roles culminating primarily in character parts in comedies, and for troupes catering to parties and murder mystery dinner theatres, Julie Johnson decided in 1997 that she would be well-suited to TEACH Drama to others. After graduating with a four-year specialist degree in teaching the Performing Arts, she moved to England to further work in both schools and theater. While mostly teaching high school Theater Arts since then (in three different countries) she has also been a leader of workshops for pre-teens and adults, a guest-speaker at college level, an adjudicator for theatre festivals and a coach and judge for speech and debate competitions. Here, in this guide, she offers many of her tips, games and exercises for teaching three different age groups under 18 years. HowExpert publishes quick 'how to' guides on all topics from A to Z by everyday experts.




Learning Through Drama in the Primary Years


Book Description

'Learning Through Drama' contains drama strategies and lesson plans for use with primary school children across the curriculum. The book provides guidance to teachers who have never taught drama before but are considering using it in a subject area such as science or history and offers new approaches to those familiar with common drama techniques (such as hot-seating and teacher in role). The book includes 36 drama strategies and over 250 cross-curricular activities, including practical ideas for inspiring speaking, listening and writing. 'This book is a beautifully laid-out, easy to use resource, full of imaginative and practical ideas to help learning become much more memorable and inspirational.' - Hilary Lewis (Drama Consultant). 'Even the well-practiced and creative drama teacher will find something in this book that serves as a refresher, reminder or quite simply a new idea... a must-have publication for those serious about the teaching of drama in primary school settings.' - Teaching Drama magazine.




Theater Games for the Classroom


Book Description

A collection of games and music to aid the drama teacher and give ideas for varied classes.




The Drama Book


Book Description

Everything you need to get dramatic in the classroom This easy-to-use, comprehensive teacher-resource book has lesson plans and practical activities that integrate theater into language learning. Plus ten original scripts so you can put the activities into action immediately! Drama and play scripts can be used to teach pronunciation, pragmatics, and other communication skills, as well as provide grammar and vocabulary practice! Conveniently organized into two parts, Part 1 includes pragmatics mini-lessons, community builders, drama games, and pronunciation activities. There are also lesson plans for producing a play (either fully-staged or as Reader's Theater), as well as guidelines and activities for writing plays to use with (or without students,) and suggestions for integrating academic content. You’ll even find rubrics and evaluation schemes for giving notes and feedback. Part 2 includes 10 original monologues and scripts of varying lengths that can be photocopied and used in the classroom. Specifically designed to feature everyday language and high frequency social interactions, these scenes and sketches follow engaging plot arcs in which characters face obstacles and strive to achieve objectives. With a foreword by Ken Wilson, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in using the performing arts to help students become more confident and fluent speakers.




The Primary Drama Handbook


Book Description

′This Primary Drama Handbook offers much more than just a few useful tips on how to use drama in the primary school. It moves way beyond the more well-known basic drama strategies to present comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the role drama can play within the primary curriculum′ - English Drama Media This book helps professionals to understand the importance and potential of drama for learning and offers step by step practical examples of how drama can work in schools across a range of curriculum subjects. Drama motivates children and is a powerful way of building skills such as speaking and listening, enhancing children′s self-esteem, and connecting learning creatively across the curriculum. The book presents information, advice and a range of practical material that helps to explain drama skills and strategies at an introductory level. It also contains a sample drama unit for each year group. This book covers a wealth of topics, including: - What do we mean by drama? - Playing, players and plays - Where is drama in the curriculum? - Why is drama important ? - Where and when can drama happen in schools? - What is the role of the adult? - How can we start drama? - Agreeing a Drama Contract - Introducing some basic drama strategies - How to plan a drama lesson - What happens if.... A section that gives short answers to common questions asked by those who are new to working with classes of children doing drama. The book is ideal for primary NQTs and teaching assistants, as well as those more experienced teachers who are not yet confident using drama techniques and whole class drama. Patrice Baldwin is Adviser for Arts Development and Improvement, with Norfolk County Council Children′s Services and Chair of National Drama.




Teaching Improv


Book Description

Do you want to teach improv, but don't know where to start? Are you looking for ways to structure improv games into effective lesson plans? Introducing Teaching Improv: The Essential Handbook, a new resource packed with 16 step-by-step lesson plans that will take the stress out of planning your improv classes. We've done the hard work for you, by organizing today's best improv games into fun, skill-based lessons that your students will absolutely love. More importantly, you'll see them grow into confident and creative performers. This resource was created by the same award-winning publisher of Teaching Drama: The Essential Handbook, a #1 best-seller on Amazon which has sold over 35,000 copies and has been translated into 5 languages. Go beyond improv games. With this book you'll get: 16 detailed, full-proof lesson plans that cover the "9 rules of improv" Notes on how to introduce improv concepts in clear, concise language Over 114 improv games and activities Reflection and journaling exercises after each lesson Homework handouts and YouTube video links to deepen understanding Sample "performance line-ups" for every age/experience level A troubleshooting guide to address common issues Bonus Digital Material with 23 Videos to demonstrate how games are played Below are just a few of the topics covered in the lessons: Teamwork and Trust. Students will demonstrate an understanding of improv and develop trust with their classmates. Make Associations. Students will practice making associations and discover tools to help them think quickly and creatively. Yes, and. Students will demonstrate the ability to accept a statement or action that they are given and add something to it. Listen. Students will listen to each other by observing how their classmates move and absorbing what their classmates say. Relate. Students will learn to internalize and connect with whatever has been communicated. Be honest. Students will demonstrate honesty in their creation of environments, objects and characters. Be in the present. Students will make strong initiations that are rooted in the present. Tell a story. Students will learn how to incorporate the Important Elements of Storytelling into their scenes. Develop Relationships. Students will explore how status affects relationships, and how it can be used to enhance a scene for comedic or dramatic effect. Scenework. Students will create entertaining scenes with characters who have a strong relationship, locations, a strong initiation, and a conflict.




Teaching Drama to Little Ones


Book Description

Do you find it difficult to find drama activities for preschool age children? Teaching theatre to very young children is a completely different experience than working with older kids. Their attention spans are shorter and they require games that are simple, short and active...but also provide them with the skills necessary to grow as an actor. Teaching Drama to Little Ones is packed with activities that do just that. It includes 12 lesson plans specifically designed for kids age 3-7 that you can implement today. It also includes guides on how to adapt a script and rehearse a show with this age group. Inside this book you'll find: 12 lessons plans packed with over 70 activities ideal for kids age 3-7 Each lesson contains a Warm-Up, Focus, Voice, Movement and Imagination activity Simple reflection questions after every lesson A guide to creating a script for little ones A guide to auditioning, rehearsing and performance tips for little ones An appendix with lyrics of simple songs for classroom use Below are just a few of the topics covered in the lessons: Getting to Know You. Students will feel comfortable in a new environment, realizing that theatre class is a place where they can make new friends while learning how to sing, dance, and act. Make Believe. Students will use their imaginations to be different characters and go on make believe adventures. Working with a Partner. Students will build trust and gain confidence by learning to work with a partner. Working as a Team. Students will realize that theater involves teamwork and everyone has a role with something important to contribute. Rhythm. Students will understand rhythm, be able to clap and follow a steady beat, and practice speeding up and slowing down their voices and movements. Energy. Students will explore how energy is necessary when performing and learn how to control and focus using that energy. Emotions. Students will explore how we use emotions to show the audience what we are feeling. Actions. Students will use movement to learn the basic concepts of blocking, choreography, and stage directions. Becoming a Character. Students will become familiar with the practice of pretending to be different characters. Using Your Voice. Students will understand why projection and diction are necessary while singing and acting. Acting Is Reacting. Students will understand that listening and reacting are just as important as speaking. Putting it Together. Students will learn how their newly developed acting skills fit together as they prepare for a final presentation or show.




Drama Projects for the Middle School Classroom


Book Description

This valuable resource book provides alternative ways for students to develop unique drama-related skills. Each of the chapters contains an objective, overview, project timeline, idea variations, tips and tricks, fun facts and more! Some include activities for individual students and groups. A great addition to any middle school classroom. Includes sixteen chapters of middle school drama projects.