Basic Drama Skills
Six-week KS3 drama unit introducing mime, tableaux, soundscapes and improvisation. Practical lessons include baseline assessment, peer/self-evaluation and written targets.
mimebody languagefacial expressiongesture
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Year 7 Drama Schemes of Work Key Stage 3 (Ages 11–12)
Explore Year 7 drama schemes of work for Key Stage 3 (KS3), with ready-to-use lesson plans, classroom activities and drama teaching resources for ages 11–12.
17 schemes of work
Titanic
A practical drama unit exploring Titanic survivors. Use a real testimony, postcards and audio to develop character, empathy and storytelling through visualisation, thought-aloud and flashback.
characterisationempathystorytellingimprovisation
Silent Movies
A 6-week practical scheme introducing mime, physical comedy and silent-film techniques. Use music clips and a classic film extract to devise and perform filmed mini-movies.
mimeexaggerationfacial expressionphysicality
Peter Pan
Six-week drama unit exploring J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan through practical workshops. Lessons build characterisation, hot seating, frozen pictures, stage combat, and a storytelling assessment.
characterisationimprovisationrole-playensemble work
Mime
Six-lesson KS3 mime scheme: develop facial expression, gesture, body language, space and eye contact. Includes situation cards, PowerPoint slide, music and a group assessment to music.
facial expressiongesturebody languageeye contact
Communication
Six-week drama unit exploring communication, miscommunication and accessibility using frozen pictures, mime, Teacher in Role, physical theatre, mirroring, gesture, music and props.
non-verbal communicationcharacterisationmirroringphysicality
Bullying
Six-week drama unit using students' experiences to devise scenes exploring victims', bullies', witnesses' and teachers' perspectives; includes devised performance, lyric writing and artwork tasks.
devisingcharacterisationimprovisationvocal expression
Pantomime
Explore stock characters, expressive skills, and audience interaction in this KS3 drama scheme of work – Pantomime. Inspire creativity with Ali Baba adaptation!
Vampires
Six-week practical drama unit using a 'Vampires' theme to explore new communities, cultural clashes and bullying through workshops, games and student-devised scenarios.
devisingimprovisationcharacterisationensemble work
Dragons Over London
Six-week practical drama unit using frozen pictures, physical theatre, interviews and filmed evaluation. Adaptable city setting; media-focused devising and music-led sequences for engaging ensemble work.
characterisationimprovisationensemble workphysical storytelling
Rainforest
Six-week drama unit exploring rainforest issues through improvisation, tableau, mime and a devised news report. Includes rehearsal, filming and a final performance assessment.
improvisationmimetableausoundscape creation
Refugees
KS3 six-lesson drama unit exploring refugees' experiences using Role on the Wall, Stanislavski and Mantle of the Expert. Includes devising, hotseating and real-life testimony.
characterisationimprovisationdevisingensemble work
Aesops Fables
Six-lesson drama unit exploring 'The Tortoise and the Hare', Greek theatre basics and Olympic origins. Practical work uses masks, chorus, devising and a performance assessment.
characterisationimprovisationnarrationensemble work
Pirates
A six-week pirate-themed drama unit using physical theatre, active games and musical pieces to explore mime, tableau, choreography and devising for practical classroom work.
physical storytellingmimechoreographystage combat
Howling Lodge
Six-lesson scheme using a ghost story and teacher-in-role to develop tension, characterisation and ensemble devising. Includes hot-seating, flashbacks and a movement assessment.
characterisationimprovisationensemble worknarration
The Monkey King
A six-lesson drama scheme exploring The Monkey King through movement, choreography and characterisation. Uses Shaolin-inspired exercises, devised scenes, music and a practical assessment.
characterisationchoreographymovement techniqueensemble work
Merlin The Wizard
A 6-lesson drama unit exploring the Merlin legend through improvisation, narration and atmospheric work, culminating in a filmed performance using lighting and special effects.
improvisationcharacterisationmimenarration
Year 7 drama lesson plans for Key Stage 3
These Year 7 drama schemes of work are designed for Key Stage 3 pupils aged 11–12. They give drama teachers a structured starting point for building confidence, introducing core drama skills and exploring a wide range of practical, engaging topics in class.
Whether you are planning introductory drama units, ensemble work, storytelling, character development or cross-curricular topics, these resources are designed to support clear progression across Year 7. Each scheme of work provides ready-to-use lesson ideas that help you save planning time while keeping lessons practical, creative and classroom-ready.
What you’ll find in our Year 7 drama resources
- complete schemes of work
- practical drama lesson ideas
- engaging KS3 classroom topics
- material suitable for mixed-ability classes
- resources to support planning across the school year
Looking for more than one scheme?
Explore the full Drama Lesson Plans toolkit for access to a wider library of KS3 drama resources, lesson planning tools and classroom materials.
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Year 8 Drama Schemes of Work
Year 9 Drama Schemes of Work
KS3 Drama Resources
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