Page 12 - Enjoying Words (EW) Comprehension & literature

WRITING PLAYS
Truth to Teach (Source)

Matthew 28:18-20 The Great Commission

 Acting can be a very effective way of communicating the Gospel.
 A play script gives actors the information they need to perform a play.
 Settings and stage directions are a necessary part of writing plays.

Way to Work (Means)
It may be possible to invite an actor into the school to talk about his/her work.

1. Try to find a simple play which the children could act out, e.g. a Bible story. This could be done
with a cast of children acting out the story as the teacher reads it.

2. Discuss with the children what is needed before a play can be acted out, e.g. the setting, the cast
of actors, the stage directions, the costumes, the script, a director.

3. Explain that the children are going to attempt to write a setting for a short play. This could be a
short paragraph. Give some examples.

E.g. The play is set in a dark, damp forest in South America. There are the noises of animals all
around. The two explorers are seeking to film a rare bird only found in these forests.

E.g. The play is set in the new home of a couple who have recently come from Jamaica. It is a
happy home with many visitors coming and going. The couple are gradually acquiring furniture for
their new home and are getting used to the British culture.

4. Talk about the need to decide how many people will be in the play. A short paragraph could then
be written about the actors.

5. Explain that the actors need stage directions which are often in brackets after the person’s name.
Talk about the colon after the person’s name and stage directions.

E.g. Sandy (walking across the stage): Where shall we begin?
i. Rob (sleepily): I am too tired to think.
ii. Sandy: We’ve got to make a plan.
iii. Rob: Yes, but not now.

Write a short section of a play on the board to show the children how it is written.

6. Let the children try the worksheet. Explain that everyone is doing the same play now but later the
children may write their own.

Learning for Life (Fulfilment)
1. The children will have been introduced to play-writing.

2. They should begin to appreciate the preparatory stage of play-writing.

10