Help your high school students thrive with age-appropriate drama lessons, play scripts, and teaching resources designed for grades 9–12. This collection makes it easy to find engaging materials for teens ages 15–18, including activities that build performance skills, creativity, collaboration, and confidence. Whether you teach beginning theatre students or advanced drama classes, these ready-to-use Drama Notebook resources will save planning time and help you deliver meaningful lessons.
Teaching Resources
Getting Started and Planning
Everything you need to organize and plan a year of teaching drama.
12 page, easy-to-follow outline packed with activities for your first drama class!
Four pages—includes sample workshop outline for a Beginning Acting class.
One page worksheet to help you identify objectives for your drama class.
Fill one of these in for every drama class/session and stay on track with fulfilling the goals of your class/session.
20 examples of how to write a course description for your drama class. Helpful for teachers of preschool through high school.
Rubrics
Simple assessment grid for grading individual students’ level of participation in acting activities in drama class. All ages.
One page worksheet that allows students to reflect on their efforts/accomplishments on a recent project or performance.
Ages 11 and up. Simple grading assessment for middle school and high school monologue performances or assignments.
Ages 11 and up. Easy form for students to assess their own monologue performance skills.
All ages. Six different assessment forms to suit a variety of different scene performances.
Ages 11 and up. Easy form for students to assess their own monologue writing skills.
Ages 11 and up. Evaluation form to assess individual students’ acting skills in a performance.
Ages 11 and up. Simple grading assessment for middle school and high school duo scene performances or assignments.
Classroom Management
32 ideas for getting your students’ attention in drama class or rehearsal. Perfect for all ages.
Don’t suffer by learning the hard way. Here are 13 pages of highly effective classroom management strategies and tips specifically for drama class!
Easy, helpful guide to making a list of rules for your drama class!
This simple yet powerful framework helps students learn to give and receive feedback in drama class. This tool fosters student voice, vulnerability, and risk-taking. It can be applied to all K-12 drama classrooms.
Start and end your class with meaning! This six-page tutorial offers 12 ways to open class and six ways to end the experience.
Posters for Your Classroom
Brighten your classroom with these eight graphics that identify common spaces/elements of a theatre space.
Help everyone follow the rules of improv with these colorful posters.
Brighten your classroom with these eight graphics that define common terms used in acting.
Brighten your classroom with these eleven graphics that identify common roles in the theatre.
6 printable mini-posters featuring elements of The Actor’s Toolbox: Voice, Body, Imagination, Concentration, and Cooperation.
Brighten your classroom with these colorful graphics explaining theatre stage directions.
Help everyone follow theatre rules with these colorful posters.
Brighten your classroom with these ten graphics that define common terms used in theatre.
Brighten your classroom with these ten graphics with inspirational quotes.
Four versions of printable mini-posters with rules for school-appropriate choices in drama class.
Literacy / Writing
Drama Vocabulary
Students match twelve different types of roles in the theatre to their meanings.
Monologue Writing
Teach your students how to write original monologues based on personal experiences or on a theme such as ‘Friendship’ or ‘Bullying’ using this 10 page lesson plan!
18 page monologue lesson plan for kids and teens. Part One covers the structure and elements of a well-written monologue.
18 page monologue-writing lesson plan for kids and teens. (Ages 9 and up.)
The playful character drawings from the Drama Notebook website will inspire students to write their own monologues.
Play and Scene Writing
Over 60 games designed to help students become better playwrights and storytellers.
In this community-building drama project, elementary students write short plays to be performed by high school students. Includes instructions for the process from beginning to end.
The playful character drawings from the Drama Notebook website will inspire students to write short scenes.
The playful drawings from the Drama Notebook website will inspire students to write short scenes.
Three printable worksheets for students to fill out after watching a stage play.
Warmups
Ages 11 and up. This handout provides a fun and powerful way for your students to add depth, variety, and expression to their line delivery.
Eleven pages of breathing activities and instructions written by guest artist Lindsay Price of Theatrefolk.
4 pages of vocal warm-ups for drama class. Twelve fun ways for children and teens to warm up their voices!
Tongue twisters can help actors become better annunciators. Here are 42 tongue twisters ready to read aloud with your group, or print and cut apart to put in a hat.
Short Scenes for Class
25 pages. Are you teaching scene study to teens this year? Enjoy eight sessions already planned for you!
Drama Activities & Lessons
42 pages. You read that right. A forty-two page awesome Beginning Acting lesson plan comes with a membership to Drama Notebook.
Here are 40 of the most well-known drama games for you to play with your students.
52 drama activities organized by categories that are perfect for the beginning of the school year!
Everything you need to plan which drama games to use in class. This lesson explains the different categories of games and how to introduce them so students build on skills. Perfect for upper elementary, middle, and high school drama classes.
Engaging escape room activity that can be played in the classroom or online. Collaborate to crack codes and learn basic theatre vocabulary. Fun for middle and high school students. Easy prep activity lasts about 30 minutes.
Eighteen drama activities that can help the members of your group (and you) to learn each other’s names quickly!
70 drama activities that can help your group become excellent collaborators and to take risks individually as actors.
70 drama activities that can help your group members become more clear, present and focused.
Over 100 ways for students to become comfortable in their bodies onstage and to learn stage movement techniques.
Tons of tableau ideas and examples. Five-page tutorial on this classic theatre exercise. Includes a description of tableau work, tips for creating successful tableaus and over 100 prompts.
Here are 28 more scene starters for improvisation for younger students and 28 more scene starters for older students! Print them out and start the activity immediately.
Popular Scripts
Most of the plays on Drama Notebook have flexible casting. Here are just a few popular titles. Check out the full script library HERE.
Flexible casting for 25+ characters. Traditional story and characters. Approximately 60 minutes running time.
8-13+ characters. 10 minutes running time. The animals of the forest gather to celebrate the changing of the seasons.
15 characters, approximately 40 minutes running time. Aspiring comic book writers bring their characters to life in this fun and female-driven play for teens.
6 characters, gender flexible, approximately 15 minutes long. Scary and suspenseful play about teens who are lost in the woods. Fun for readers theatre, radio drama, classroom study or live performance.
26 characters. Too good to be true. Here is a professionally edited one-hour version of Macbeth that is included in a Drama Notebook membership! (3 credits.)
Flexible casting, 10-36 characters, approximately 30 minutes running time. Perfect for middle and high school. Impressions is a vignette play comprised of several scenes that explore the many meanings of the word “impressions.”
6-9 characters, any gender. Approximately 15 minutes long. Three kids encounter Little Bigfoot, a race of Sasquatch rejected because of their size, lack of hair, and “bad” behavior. Fun for middle and high school.
17 characters. A professionally edited one-hour version of Shakespeare’s play, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ that is royalty-free to Drama Notebook members! (3 credits.)
13-30 characters. Flexible casting. 30-40 minutes running time. Short version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Maintains Shakespeare’s text. Great for middle and high school groups.
17 characters, flexible casting, approximately 10 minutes. Comedy script that blends different Greek myths. Perfect for middle and high school.
12+ characters, flexible casting. Approximately 30 minutes long. Includes songs from the public domain. Comedy adventure script based on the classic story of Peter Pan.
17 characters, flexible casting. Approximately 45 minutes long. A comical and colorful mystery based on the interactive mystery of the same name. A wealthy old woman is found poisoned in her garden. There are lots of clues and suspects, but only one real murderer.
21 Characters. Approximately 30 minutes running time. Cast size and gender breakdown are flexible. In this original play, the elephant in the room is grief. A perfect way for high schoolers to explore a difficult topic with creativity and heart.
10-15 characters, flexible casting. Approximately 40 minutes long. A dramatic adaptation of four Robert Frost narrative poems.
12+ characters, flexible casting. Approximately 15 minutes long. A funny mystery where strangers gather, something goes missing, and the detective is not what you think he is.
25+ characters 15 minutes running time. Flexible casting. A comedy about an epic baseball game, written in verse.
6+ characters, approximately 60 minutes long. With Vigor is a fast-paced, interactive comedy that employs audience participation, improv, and physical comedy to enthrall the audience in a whirlwind of fun. The play opens with a community theatre rehearsing a new play. The director, who also happens to be the playwright, takes the project very seriously, but the cast and crew have a lot of work to do. Excellent for teens and community theatres.
16+ characters, flexible casting, and approximately 30 minutes long. Abridged play script based on the classic story of The Wizard of Oz. Perfect for children and teens.
Directing Plays
For even more directing resources and organizing tools, check out the full directing section HERE.
If you are directing a play, this amazing guide will help you build and organize your production notebook. It is perfect for both new and experienced directors and stage managers.
7-page checklist to use to keep track of your behind-the-scenes roles and dates.
Simple rehearsal schedule outline for school plays and after-school drama programs.
Keep track of all the scenes you’ve worked on from blocking through tech week. Whether you are rehearsing a simple play with kids, or a full-length musical, these checklists are a lifesaver.
Print and cut these easy-to-use templates for giving both line notes and acting notes during or after play rehearsal. Great for student stage managers and actors.
Do you ever wonder how to keep everyone occupied at rehearsal? This resource is full of strategies to keep kids engaged so you can focus on directing.
Give students a clear, confidence-building introduction to stage management with simple, doable jobs that support the cast, crew, and overall flow of rehearsal and performance.
Helpful guide and templates for creating actor bios to use in your theatre program.
This audition rubric is a perfect tool for tracking and taking notes during an audition. Just print out the template and add a plus, check, or minus symbol to each area of the actor’s toolbox.
Editable audition form template for middle school and high school productions.
Video Learning
Getting Started
Plan a year of drama with confidence and creativity. In this helpful video, you’ll learn how to map out a full year of engaging lessons that build skills, spark imagination, and keep students excited from day one to the final bow. Perfect for drama teachers ready to turn big ideas into a clear, powerful plan.
Bring clarity, creativity, and flow to every class period! In this quick, practical video, you’ll learn a simple structure for guiding students from warm-up to wrap-up with purpose and energy. Perfect for drama teachers who want smooth, engaging, and inspiring class periods-every time.
Learn how to set up your drama classroom and what things you need to make it fun, organized, and inspiring for everyone.
Step into the director’s chair with confidence! This engaging video breaks down the directing process into simple, achievable steps. Learn how to cast effectively, rehearse with purpose, manage young performers, and bring a script to life—while keeping the experience fun and stress-free. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create a successful, joyful production from day one.
This inspiring video gives teachers practical strategies and activities to introduce Shakespeare’s stories, language, and characters with confidence—making the Bard accessible, exciting, and fun for all ages. Perfect for anyone teaching Shakespeare for the first time or looking to spark a lifelong love of his timeless tales.
Classroom Management
Turn classroom chaos into creative flow! In this short, engaging video, you’ll learn practical, drama-specific classroom management strategies that keep energy high, behavior positive, and every student ready to shine. Perfect for new and seasoned drama teachers alike, it’s your backstage pass to a smoother, more joyful classroom experience. Lights up, stress down!
Set the stage for success! In this short video, you’ll learn how to co-create meaningful classroom agreements that build trust, spark collaboration, and empower students to take ownership of their drama space. Discover simple, creative strategies that transform your classroom into a safe, supportive place where every student feels ready to take bold risks. Perfect for any drama teacher ready to make the magic happen from day one!
Unlock the power of meaningful feedback in your drama classroom! This easy-to-use framework teaches students to give and take feedback and also helps you assess student engagement and understanding. Watch this video and learn how to incorporate this powerful Feedback Framework into your drama classroom and rehearsal.
Share this video with your drama students to learn the traditions and rules we all need to follow so everyone can have a positive experience in class or rehearsal. Discover simple, engaging ways to embody the focus, courtesy, and teamwork that are essential in the theatre.
Acting and Other Lessons
C.R.O.W. is an easy to remember acronym for Character, Relationship, Objective, Where/When. This video teaches clever and unique ways to use CROW in the drama classroom, rehearsal, and across the curriculum.
Boost your drama students’ confidence with five fun and engaging activities that strengthen vocal projection on stage.
This video gives teachers practical strategies to help young actors add expression and dynamics to their lines on stage. Perfect for guiding students to perform with energy and confidence. Learn how the 5 Ps can transform your lines from flat to fabulous!
For Teachers and Students
Unlock the secret to better performances in class and on the stage. Drama warmups aren’t just fun-they’re essential. This video shares practical tips for making warmups engaging and energizing for all ages.
This video guides teens through effective vocal warmups to strengthen their voices, improve projection, and build confidence—essential tools for any stage-ready performer.
This engaging video will unlock The Actor’s Toolkit for you and your students. Learn how to use the Voice, Body, Imagination, Concentration and Cooperation to create characters for the stage. Perfect for building strong, versatile actors from day one.
This video will teach your students the 10 essential rules of improv and drama games. Help them think on their feet, work together, and bring every scene to life with confidence and creativity.
Make teaching Shakespeare feel simple and stress-free with video lessons built for the classroom, including an on-demand teacher workshop to help you feel grounded and organized.
