Teaching Drama: The Essential Handbook: 16 Ready-to-Go Lesson Plans to Build a Better Actor

I’m using this book as a tool to help me teach a theater class at my homeschool co-op. I’ve taught many theater summer camps through the years, but this book has been such a great resource in helping me have a focus and guide for what to teach, how to teach it, and why it is important! I’m about 6-8 lessons into the book at this point (using 1 lesson every week to 2 weeks since we only meet on Fridays). The activities have all been successful so far, and my students are having such a fun time in class. I have about 8-10 students, and all of the activities have worked for that number of kids, but I could easily see this working in a larger group as well. This book has been an excellent resource, and I will continue to use it each year!

I am a first year elementary theatre teacher, and although I've been a part of theatre world most of my life I have been having difficulty taking my knowledge and synthesizing it into something for a K-5 classroom. This book is a lifesaver! At first I was disappointed by what showed up -- what looked like a very short workbook. But in hindsight, I'm not sure how long I expected a book of 16 lesson plans to be (it's 43 pages). I also bought a couple of longer books of games, and other info for first year teachers, but this is the one I keep returning to over the past week or so. If needed, I could pick it up and get through the first 3 weeks of school with ease. The 60-minute lessons are largely game based (ex: mirror exercise, pantomime detective, blind cars, etc.) which is great for young kids. There are also reflections and little asides throughout the lessons that explain how each game relates back to theatre and how to incorporate them into your classroom. I'm finding it easy to replicate these lessons for additional follow-up classes by interchanging the games with other ones I know (or ones found in my other book or online). If you are just starting out teaching Theatre/Drama classes (especially K-8), I highly recommend this short book!

As a first year drama teacher I was stressed about what to teach and when to teach it. This book starts you from what you need to teach first and builds up from there. The book is written out in lesson plan form, so this book essentially has become my lesson plan book. I honestly do not know what I would have done without it. The kids love it, and these plans can be watered down or heightened depending on your grade level. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book. I wish it could come in an editable edition on the computer so I could type in my own stuff and personal notes. But that's just me, and my OCD about having clean notes. Seriously though, if you are a drama teacher new or old, this book is a Godsend.

Basic, essential, and clear. Not every drama teacher will want to follow the plans to the letter, but this book is chock full of ideas to get you started.

This looks like it will be perfect for my new high school drama club. The lessons are not too childish so that the high school students will be turned off. No lessons where you pretend to be a melting ice cream cone, lol. Instead, the lessons are designed to open students' eyes to the acting they see all around them. It teaches them to be more observant of how people communicate, using gesture, facial expressions, tone of voice, etc. Very nice handbook for a beginning drama teacher.

This may be too basic for a seasoned drama teacher, but I’m fairly new, last year had no structure whatsoever, and this year with the help of this book, I finally feel like I’m getting it right. I teach a weekly 45 minute homeschool intro to drama class, and the lessons fill the 45 minutes exactly. I am able to read the 2-3 pages before class so I know what’s coming, then walk in and tell them what we’re learning today, play the games that are laid out for that lesson, then wrap it up with a little bit of “reflection” work for their drama journal. Thank you so much. I hope you make a part 2!!

As a new Drama Teacher, this was an excellent resource. I stopped stressing over what to teach each lesson. Many of these activities my kids have asked to do again and again. It's laid out the objectives clearly for me, provided reflection questions throughout and the activities are immediately engaging but teach all of the essentials. I love that it is stepped gradually up building from simple activities and gradually getting more complex. I have been following this book lesson by lesson only leaving out things when I run out of time. I have used it with 6 year olds to 11 year olds so far in the classroom and for drama club. For my drama club I pick and choose which activities suit what I want to work on but for my year 1's and 2's I've been following it pretty much lesson by lesson. It has been a godsend and saved me hours of research and planning every week!

I do think this book is geared more toward younger children than high school, but can easily be adapted. There are a lot of great activities in the book, but not a lot of instruction on teaching drama. There is a lot more to it than just giving them time to try out things. If this were used as a class for a school credit there is nowhere near enough information. Perhaps a better title would be 16 Great Activities to Do in Drama Class. The organization of the book could use a revamp as well. Notes and suggestions for the lesson are thrown in weird places. It isn't organized very well. The activities are great, but I wouldn't call this an 'Essential Handbook' by any means.

Das Büchlein enthält 16 komplette, gut strukturierten Dramastunden. Man kann sie als Einführungsstunden nehmen, aber mehrere Aktivitäten kann man auch mit erfahreneren Spielern regemäßig einsetzen. Die Stunden sind für Studenten geschrieben, aber die meisten Aktivitäten funktionieren auch mit jüngeren Kindern. Wo es nötig ist kann man ja immer vereinfachen. Ich freue mich, dass ich das Buch habe.

Great ideas. Thanks!

I've been using this in grade 2 to 5 classes and it is great. Very easy to use. Best drama resource I've found so far!

Found it very helpful for children in the age group of 7 to 13

I'm only two chapters in in actual lessons and so far very pleased. I teach two groups of children who are home educated, I have a huge age range (5 -15!) and vast abilities. I used to be an actor but my training was years ago and much of it wouldn't be appropriate for the children I teach. This book, though short, helps so much with ideas (I do have to mix and match a few things given my teaching circumstances). Very happy.