Characterization and Stage Directions Lesson

This lessons helps students understand the importance of stage directions and how it affect the reader/audience's impression of the characters.

This lesson has students rotating between three stations where they read a short scene from a play. At each station only the stage directions are changed and students record on a graphic organizer how that changed their perception of the character. (The scene is short enough for students to read, discuss, reflect multiple times in one class period!)

At the forth and final station, students reflect on what they have learned and write their own version of the same scene, changing the stage directions to change the character's perceived traits.

I created this lesson for use in my own classroom. The students enjoyed working in groups, moving around the room, and it really opened their eyes to the importance of stage directions!