Middle School Drama/Theatre Curriculum

Middle School Drama: Confidence, Collaboration, & Creativity

Welcome to the Drama program, where the stage serves as a classroom for essential life skills. Our curriculum is designed not just for aspiring actors, but for every student. By focusing on 21st-century skills—communication, collaboration, and critical thinking—we help students become confident speakers and creative problem solvers.

Building Confidence

Public speaking is a vital skill for the future. Through basic acting techniques, students become more comfortable presenting in front of others. Whether it’s a class presentation in history or a speech in the future, the confidence built in the drama classroom translates directly to academic and professional success.

The Curriculum: From Improv to Tech

Our classes utilize a mix of structured lessons and dynamic activities, including writing prompts, theater games, and performance opportunities.

Core Performance Units:

• Improvisation: Thinking on your feet and creative collaboration.
• Monologues: Individual performance and character development.
• Short Two-Person Scenes: Partner work and dialogue.
• Ten-Minute Plays: Understanding story structure and ensemble work.

Technical Arts (Marshall Campus): At the Marshall, students also engage in a specialized theater tech unit. This hands-on module covers the setup and operation of video cameras, sound equipment, and lighting, giving students a behind-the-scenes look at production.

Pathways & Participation

• Grade 6: Drama is a foundational course taken by all sixth-grade students in the district.
• Grade 7 & 8: While there is no specific seventh-grade course, students have the unique opportunity to advance directly to Acting 1 at the high school level during their 8th-grade year.

Beyond the Classroom

While our primary focus is classroom learning, students occasionally get the chance to support the school’s extracurricular drama performances. This includes hands-on work building props and set pieces, bridging the gap between classwork and live production.