The use of acting out stories in lessons

Acting Out Stories

To act out a story is to play out what happened in it.

For Example: You may have students act out a certain chapter in a book.

Most Effective with...

Examples, Acting classes, English classes, History classes, Younger children, ELL
students, Historical events, Stories/Plays.
Pros Cons
❖ Students are involved in lesson ❖ May not have enough time to think
❖ Helps a child make a more personal ❖ Not always very organized
connection with a book ❖ Can be unpredictable
❖ Explores different characters' perspectives ❖ Could take too much time
❖ Students apply themselves as they go
(cannot zone out/hands on experience)
❖ a great way for students to internalize a new
language learned from reading by
incorporating oral performance

ELLS
Retains information read / Understands the new language and context / Has to think
about what happened

❖ Beginning-level ELL students can act ❖ Advanced-level ELL students can act out
out simple stories or play the characters more elaborate stories or take on the
with the least amount of dialogue. roles with the most dialogue.
 Your Part As A Teacher
★ Make sure each student is involved
★ Give clear directions
★ Allow students to use their imagination
★ Assess their knowledge of the story through comprehension assessment
questions
★ Give positive feedback/critique

Simple Lesson Plan Example

1. Clearly present lesson to classroom and describe the idea of “Acting out a story”.
Make sure each student understands the idea before continuing with direction
2. Read a story to the students
3. Allow the students to discuss the story with their peers and reread the story a
second time
4. Separate the students into multiple groups (3 or 4) depending on classroom size.
5. Explain to the student that each group will be “acting out a portion of the story”
allow them to use their imagination among their peers and decide who will play
which role making sure each student has a role including a reader.
6. Assign each group a portion of the story they will be acting out
7. Allow students to present.
8. At the end ask students if they would do something different to other groups or
their own to help the story make sense then re-act the story another time
9. Explain to the students how this lesson was useful and ask them what they
learned and how they would use it again.
10. Assess the students on the idea of acting out a story, as well as their own
knowledge of the story.