349 stories by "Kerry Hishon"
Clear relationships onstage make characters' interactions that much more interesting and engaging for the audience. The audience needs to know immediately how one character relates to anothe…
Sometimes when your students do a playwriting assignment or an improvised scene, they'll need a prompt to help them choose what kind of relationship their characters will have. Many students…
For the following exercise, students will start by individually creating and analyzing a new character (or analyzing an existing character). Then with a partner, they'll come up with a scena…
Theatre is all about communication and collaboration. Students come together to tell a story and create a collective experience for an audience. When students are working together, it's impo…
Writing monologues is a skill that takes practice. When students are learning how to write monologues, it's easy for them to fall into the trap of writing a story spoken by one person. Story…
This exercise is a great icebreaker game and a fun way for students to get to know each other. Students are challenged to figure out what famous character they are and who their partner in t…
Memorizing lines should happen as early and quickly as possible in the rehearsal process. The sooner your students get their scripts out of their hands, the easier it will be for them to get…
This warm-up exercise is simple, but sometimes that's just what you need " a simple yet fun warm-up that gets your students up and moving around. This exercise is also quiet " no speaking al…
Whether you're a new drama teacher or you've been at it for years, please don't try to go it alone. We've said many times before on the Theatrefolk blog that theatre is a collaborative effor…
When choosing a show for a class or school production, the first thought teachers usually have is about the practicalities. There are many important things to consider. Is it an appropriate …
The first week of a new term is a busy one. Teachers need to introduce themselves, go over rules and procedures, learn students' names, and establish a sense of trust, community, and safety.…
Get To Know You Bingo is a fun icebreaker game. It gets students up out of their seats, moving around and talking to each other. It's also a good way for you to get to know more about your s…
Safety is an important aspect of teaching any subject, including drama. It is essential that everyone walking into the drama classroom feels safe " physically, emotionally, and socially. Unf…
"What did you do on your summer/winter holidays?" is over. "What are your plans for the weekend?" is boring. You need some new and fresh icebreaker questions to get your students conversing.…
We've discussed ways to foster connection and establish trust with your students, but we also need to establish boundaries. Boundaries are necessary to protect ourselves and our well-being. …
Drama teachers, we know you are going THROUGH it. We're not going to list the stresses and frustrations and troubles because we all know it, we've experienced it (or are currently experienci…
Students rely on their teachers to impart lessons with confidence, understanding, and kindness. They need to feel safe in their classroom to learn, make mistakes, fail, and try again. In sho…
There's a noticeable positive energy in a classroom where there is a genuine connection between the students and the teacher. Students are engaged in the lesson and well-behaved. Students wh…
Classroom routines and systems help students and teachers alike feel organized and secure. There's something comforting about knowing what is expected, what happens next, and what the genera…
Welcome to a new year, drama educators! If you're new to teaching drama " whether you're an experienced educator who has changed departments or you're a brand-new teacher " we are so happy y…
This is a fun project to do with your students at the end of the year. At first glance it looks like an art project (and it is!) but when you peel back the layers, you'll see that it helps s…
Some of the most interesting and creative theatre has been made without anything other than the brains and imaginations of groups of people. But having some fresh new tools, resources, and e…
Reflecting is an important tool in the drama classroom, and an essential part of personal growth. If your students ask you why reflections are important, here are five reasons you can give t…
We are all about reflecting here at Theatrefolk. You'll notice that the vast majority of exercises and lessons here and in the Drama Teacher Academy include an exit slip or reflection que…
The following lesson was created for students to discover, appreciate, and display respect for diverse, real-life issues and events in the theatre world. It can be done live in class, assign…
