Basic Drama Skills Scheme of Work

(ages 11-12)

This six-lesson practical unit introduces core drama techniques for classroom use. Lessons focus on mime, frozen pictures (tableaux), split scenes, teacher-in-role, hot-seating and soundscapes, with a baseline assessment and an end-of-unit assessment. Each lesson includes teacher-led activities, group devising and short plenaries for vocabulary and reflection. Use the unit to structure six weeks of active, teacher-led workshops that build ensemble skills, character work and listening, and to capture participation and written self-evaluation.

What Students Will Learn

Students develop foundational drama skills: mime and non-verbal communication; creating and performing frozen pictures; character physicality and vocal patterns; split-scene construction; teacher-in-role and hot-seating interrogation; devising short soundscapes to create mood and atmosphere. The unit also builds listening, group collaboration and verbal/written evaluation through baseline testing, peer feedback and target-setting tasks.

Week 1: Introducing Mime
Introduces basic non-verbal drama rules and mime skills while establishing classroom expectations. Main activities are 'Leader of the Orchestra' and 'King of Silence' to practice mime, gesture and facial expression plus a baseline assessment.
Resources Include
Resources
Basic Drama SkillsBaseline AssessmentMarking Policy
Week 2: Creating the perfect Frozen Picture
Teaches how to interpret story moments and construct frozen pictures using 'The Old Family Coach'. Students devise and perform three tableaux with thought-tapping to reveal character thoughts.
Resources Include
Resources
The Old Family Coach
Week 3: Stereotypes and developing a character
Explores physical and vocal character development through stereotype discussion using 'The Old Ford Escort' song. Groups create a frozen picture for a chosen car and perform a one-minute brought-to-life scene.
Resources Include
Resources
The Old Ford Escort Song
Week 4: Creating a basic split scene
Focuses on constructing split scenes and improving listening through the 'Shopping Lists' game. Students devise a split-scene shop/robber routine that begins and ends with a frozen picture and uses linking techniques.
Week 5: Teacher in role and pupil in role
Develops improvisation and questioning skills with teacher-in-role and hot-seating activities. Class plays 'Cops and Robbers', interviews a teacher-in-role thief, then pairs hot-seat each other as cop or robber.
Week 6: Assessment lesson - soundscapes
Assesses understanding of mood and atmosphere through group-devised soundscapes. Students create themed soundscapes, perform to the class and complete written/verbal self-evaluation and target setting.