When my kids were in elementary school, we decided to join a co-op once a week to enjoy extra-curricular activities. Since we had done some fun drama activities with neighborhood friends the past couple of years, and I had directed a play with our homeschool group for younger students, I knew I wanted my kids and others to have a theater program at this co-op.

Hi! My name is Danielle and I have homeschooled my kids from Pre-K through high school and have enjoyed many different ways to fit drama into our homeschool and now want to share what I’ve learned with you.

Make it Fun!

I had never led a theater program before, but knew I wanted to do something the kids would really enjoy. This was about having fun. The best way to start was with a drama class. As I started to think through what we would do each week for the first semester, I found there were a lot of great drama games to play and they all taught important drama skills. I decided to put them together based on skills and work on a new skill each week. That’s how Places Everyone! drama game fun for the whole semester came about. The class was a hit and the kids looked forward to coming each week. They were truly engaged and wanted to participate.

Our program was only one day a week, but that’s all we needed to break up the week from the other core classes the kids were taking. We had about 50 minutes for each class. With a helper the first year, I worked with 2nd -3rd graders in one class and 4th-6th in another. Later these same games were used for middle school and high school students.

Here is a list of the ten skills we worked on and the value each has:

1. Introduction to Theater and Each Other
   
   It’s good to start with the basics. Also, if the kids don’t know each other then this is a great way for them to get to know each other’s names, plus start to get comfortable being dramatic. I know, some kids don’t need any help getting comfortable with that. 😄 If they know each other already, then this helps them build confidence being dramatic as they follow the leader and learn how to work as a team.
   
   2. Pantomime
   
   Pantomime is more than being stuck in a box. It is a way to show with your actions what you are trying to communicate. They say, “Actions speak louder than words!” This definitely proves that statement to be true as students can only communicate with actions. Once they can talk, actions help to enhance what they are trying to communicate. Some of my favorite comedians do physical comedy; their actions are what really make people laugh. If you have a tight budget or no money at all, pantomime is a great way to tell a story with limited props or no props at all. (You can read about a play the kids performed inspired by this skill.)
   
   3. Voice
   
   As students learn to tell their story and show us who their character really is, they need to use their voice in many different ways. In theater, projecting is very important, so it’s good for actors to warm up their voices and to learn how to project across the stage and through the audience. Even if you do have mics, they don’t do all the work for you. If the students are singing songs, then it’s another reason to work on their voice and warm up those vocal cords.
   
   4. Props
   
   If actors want to tell a little more about their character or enhance the story, using props can be very helpful. It’s important that students learn how to use props so they can make the most of telling their story. An old man walking with a cane needs to practice walking with it and getting the feel for what that looks like. A fairy with a magic wand needs to know how to use it properly to get the most effect but also when not to use it, so she doesn’t distract from the other actors telling their part of the story.
   
   Here are the directions for a game we play called “Become an Object” from Places Everyone! drama game fun for the whole semester:

   

   
   5. Focus
   
   Learning to focus is essential in life and what a fun way to learn with drama games. When working with other students in a skit or play, it is important that each person pays attention to what is happening. First, students need to pay attention to the director to know where they are supposed to stand and when they are supposed to come on and off stage. Focusing also helps a student know when the next line needs to be said or if a certain action or response is necessary based on what others are saying in the play.
   
   6. Creative Ideas
   
   It’s important for actors to work on their creativity skills. They can tell a story on their own or work together to create a unique story. This helps them build their character thinking through the best ways to tell their story, plus learn to work as a team.
   
   7. Improv
   
   Sometimes we need to think quickly on our feet. Improvisation, or improv for short, is a great way to learn how to adlib. Usually in a play the script is already written out and actors are supposed to follow it. But, sometimes, someone forgets a line and it’s important for either that person or the actors around him to adlib something to get him back on track. Thinking quickly on their feet in these situations and others in life is a very helpful skill.
   
   8. Skits
   
   Acting out short little skits gets students used to working with each other and telling a story in a dramatic way. A fun way to work on characters interacting with each other is to perform a skit, then change the characters but keep the same script and see how it changes the scene.
   
   9. Creating a Commercial
   
   Writing a commercial can be a fun way to work on their creative skills. Every commercial you see had to be written by someone. How did they decide what each character was going to say or how the jingle was going to sound? There is a lot of creativity when writing a commercial.
   
   10. Performing a Commercial
   
   A lot of actors act in commercials either when they are first starting out or to help promote a product because they are famous. The acting can make a difference in whether or not someone believes the actor and decides to buy the product. It’s also a fun way to do a little performance when there’s not enough time to perform an entire play.

You Can Start a Theater Program

You can start a theater program for any age with drama games. If you aren’t part of a group then just invite some friends to join you once a week for an hour. Using something that already exists is helpful to save you time in your preparations. You can save time by using Places Everyone! drama game fun for the whole semester to get started today!

Once students have learned acting skills they are ready to rehearse and perform a play. Choose from these plays and check out our How to Direct a Play step-by-step guide if you want help directing from auditions to performance night.

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Thanks for joining us!

Danielle at homeschooldrama.com