Research shows that speech, debate, and drama classes teach students to think and listen critically, collaborate, and communicate effectively. The activities and projects in our programs get students on their feet and enthusiastically involved in their learning as they develop these vital life skills.
Perfect for both beginning and advanced theatre and technical theatre courses.
Each chapter uses step-by-step projects to build students’ confidence and competence in areas ranging from theatre basics and elements of acting to technical theatre, producing/directing, and various types of theatre.
A speaking project in every chapter ensures student engagement.
On Your Feet activities get students warmed up, Theatre Then and Now focuses on theatre history, and Master of the Craft highlights significant leaders in theatre.
New features include Cultural Heritage,The Language of Theatre, and historical timelines.
Explore and discuss the dynamic role and impact of theatre in society as well as the dynamic changes in film, television, and electronic media resulting from digital technology.
These collections of original, royalty-free plays can be used in the theatre, language arts or social studies classroom to make learning interactive and exciting.
The Teacher Guides provide support for literary and dramatic studies of the plays.
Stages of History focuses on eight defining moments in American history all featuring adolescent protagonists—the Revolutionary War, the Underground Railroad, homesteading, the Gold Rush, and more. Careful research on the historical basis of the plays helps students use reading and speaking skills to connect with the events.
Nine Muses: Modern Plays From Classic Myths features mystery, intrigue, tragedy, humor, and romance as each of the nine plays is narrated by a muse providing her own unique, and sometimes offbeat, perspective on a classic myth. Includes Creating Context—a superb introduction to mythology, including the source of myths, the world of classic mythology, and the gods/goddesses at a glance.
Make your Shakespeare unit a true Shakespeare-ience!
These unabridged versions of Shakespearean plays will help students master the Bard's language and deepen their understanding of the characters and events in a play.
Use for a literary study with easy-to-follow side glosses, background notes, page-by-page plot summaries to aid comprehension, and play questions that focus on critical analysis.
Use for a performance-based study with speaking, listening, writing, and reading activities; personas for each student; pre-scene improvisations; and abundant pre- and during-play suggestions.
A Teacher Guide features flexible planning guides, a blueprint for student improvement, background information, teaching tips, and extensive blackline masters.
Imaginative projects keep students actively involved
Each of the 49 chapters features one major project outlined in easy-to-follow steps—perfect for students who learn best by doing.
Students prepare and present an oral activity, including
—solo and group improvisations
—solo and choral readings
—pantomime
—introductory speeches
—demonstration speeches
—"chalk talk" interviews
—impromptu speeches
A Teacher Guide includes activity sheets, rubrics, evaluation forms, unit assessments, and answer keys.
Prepare students for college and the workplace with project-based activities designed to build students’ interpersonal, group, and workplace communication skills through active learning.
Using a consistent three-step process (prepare, present, evaluate), students learn critical communication skills from first-hand experience and reflection.
Topics include
—interpersonal communication.
—problem solving and managing conflict.
—group and mass communication.
—public speaking.
—presentation types.
—cultural and gender communication issues
—career exploration.
Essential questions highlight relevant issues for critical thinking and analysis.
Preparation for communication in the modern workplace
Develops students’ confidence and competence in workplace communications through project-based activities in interpersonal, problem solving, group, and presentation settings.
Each project provides opportunities for independent work; presentation practice; and lively, collaborative discussions in whole class, small group, and peer settings.
Essential questions highlight relevant issues for critical thinking and analysis.
A Companion Website features open-source videos, reproducible activities, interactive career surveys, and other useful resources.
For almost 70 years, the “go-to” resource for helping students become confident, engaging public speakers
From personal, persuasive, and information speeches to business presentations and speeches for special occasions, each of the 38 projects focuses on the speaking, listening, and evaluation skills needed to thrive as a public speaker.
Each speech project follows a clear four-step process—Preparing, Organizing, Presenting, and Evaluating.
Clear expectations, specific guidelines, and models for each type of speech builds students' confidence and competence.
Imaginative projects keep students actively involved
Each of the 49 chapters features one major project outlined in easy-to-follow steps—perfect for students who learn best by doing.
Students prepare and present an oral activity, including
—solo and group improvisations
—solo and choral readings
—pantomime
—introductory speeches
—demonstration speeches
—"chalk talk" interviews
—impromptu speeches
A Teacher Guide includes activity sheets, rubrics, evaluation forms, unit assessments, and answer keys.
A comprehensive resource for all forms of competitive debate—public forum, Lincoln-Douglas debate, world schools, mock trial, and congressional and parliamentary debate.
Written and reviewed by a team of accomplished debate teachers, nationally-known debate directors and judges, and award-winning debate coaches.
A Debate Across the Curriculum chapter links debate and communication skills to project-based learning and provides tips and resources for adding debate to a variety of classes and disciplines.
A Watch It feature points students to an open educational resource video on the chapter topic and builds both background and contextual knowledge.
A Companion Website offers many debate resources—research sites, open-source videos, and quizzes.
The skills and preparation students need for debate success
Inquiry-based exercises involve argumentation, rebuttals, defense, flowing, and research methods.
Develop the vocabulary and critical thinking skills necessary in multiple debate formats.
The softcover text covers a wide range of competitive debate formats—public forum, Lincoln-Douglas debate, world schools, mock trial, and congressional and parliamentary debate.