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Acting

Intro to Acting

Building Skills, Confidence, and Stage Presence

Contributing Educator: Brian Cooper

This Introduction to Acting unit emphasizes games and physical activities, partnered with group discussion, to teach core concepts and build a strong, flexible, trusting ensemble. For those of us who have worked in school for many years, we know the traditional classroom model – teacher-centered, desk-bound, and content-heavy – often doesn’t reflect how students learn best. Keeping kids active, engaged, and curious is culturally responsive teaching. Dramallama believes learning should be an active, joyful, community experience.

This unit includes ten core topics that form the foundation of an Introduction to Theater course. The term topic is used intentionally, as something bigger than an individual lesson, to acknowledge that theatre educators bring a wealth of experience, creativity, and teacher superhero powers to their work.

Lesson Plans Included: 10
Materials: Printable Resources and Activities are included to help guide your work and support student learning.
Grade Levels: Middle School, High School

Lesson Plan Topics

  1. Creating Ensemble & Agreements - Build your ensemble and make agreements [TH:Cr1.1.I, TH:Cn10.1.I]
  2. Body Awareness & Stage Directions - Use the body as an instrument & know your stage areas [TH:Pr4.1.I, TH:Pr6.1.I]
  3. Voice & Vocal Expression - Use the voice as an instrument [TH:Pr4.1.I, TH:Pr6.1.I]
  4. Improvisation - Imagination in action, good listening, quick thinking [TH:Cr2.1.I, TH:Pr5.1.I]
  5. Character Creation - Know who you are: a character’s physical and emotional self [TH:Cr3.1.I, TH:Pr4.1.I]
  6. Character Development & Relationships - Working well with others through goals and obstacles [TH:Re8.1.I, TH:Cr3.1.I]
  7. Script Work - Mining for meaning, structure, beats and subtext [TH:Re7.1.I, TH:Pr4.1.I, TH:Cr1.1.I]
  8. Scene Study - Ensemble story and staging [TH:Pr6.1.I, TH:Pr5.1.I]
  9. Rehearsal Habits - Developing habits and self-direction, giving and receiving feedback [TH:Re9.1.I, TH:Pr5.1.I]
  10. Performance & Reflection - Presentation, self-assessment, ensemble Feedback [TH:Pr6.1.6a, TH:Re9.1.6a]

Why Teachers Love it

Dramallama Unit Design & easy to follow lesson plans

Fun activities for the students

Printable Resources to guide learning

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