Drama, Speech & Debate
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.
Basic Drama Projects
Comprehensive project-based theatre instruction
- 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.
Drama for Reading & Performance
Revive your language arts or drama curriculum with plays by distinguished playwrights
- Drama adds interest and variety to your curriculum, develops speaking and listening skills, and builds students' confidence as they read or perform.
- Collection One is meant for middle school students and includes 17 plays.
- Collection Two is meant for high school students and includes 20 plays.
- Each anthology features contemporary one-, two-, and three-act plays by distinguished playwrights and authors.
- A unique two-path approach lets you use the plays for literary analysis or classroom performance.
- A glossary defines key literary and theatrical terms.
Drama Anthologies
Plays for the drama or social studies classroom
- 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.
Shakespeare-ience
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.
Creative Communication: Projects in Acting, Speaking, Oral Reading
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.
