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Putting On a Play

Sixth graders follow a play from the first audition to opening night, through rehearsals, building sets, and the dress rehearsal, and put the steps of a production in order.

Grade 6Production40 minutes1 class periodArtistic ProcessExplicit teaching4 StandardsNCAS
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain a production.
  • ✓Name its main stages.
  • ✓Describe a rehearsal.
  • ✓Order the steps.
Essential Question

Opening night looks effortless, but weeks of work lead up to it. What steps does a play go through from script to stage?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Order the Steps · Interactive

Order the Steps

Project this and put the steps of staging a play in order — tap each step from auditions to opening night.

🎭 Put the steps of staging a play in orderTry it
Tap the steps in order, starting with auditions and casting.
The Lesson · Artistic Process (Warm-Up · Explore · Rehearse · Perform · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — From Script to Stage

5 min

Opening night looks effortless, but it takes weeks of work to get there. What steps does a play go through before the curtain rises?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Ask what happens first.
  • Name a step.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Order the Steps

12 min

Students put the production steps in order.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Order the Steps.
  • Order the steps.
  • Name each one.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Modify — What Happens When?

13 min

Students place events in the process.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a production event.
  • Say which step it belongs to.
  • Say why.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name.
  • Say.
  • Say.
4

Create — Production Plan

15 min

Students plan a short production.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a short scene.
  • List the steps to stage it.
  • Set a simple schedule.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • List.
  • Set.
5

Reflect — Opening Night

5 min

Students reflect on staging a play.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What happens at a dress rehearsal?
  • Why do rehearsals come before the performance?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the National Core Arts Standards (Theatre).

NCAS
TH:Cr3.1.6

Articulate and apply critique to refine a devised or scripted drama.

NCAS
TH:Pr5.1.6

Explore and discuss the rehearsal process in a drama or performance.

NCAS
TH:Pr6.1.6

Adapt a drama for presentation to a specific audience.

NCAS
TH:Pr4.1.6

Identify the steps and roles needed to stage a production.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Step cards with icons.
  • Sentence frame: “First ___ , then ___ .”
  • Order two steps at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with auditions and opening night.
  • Walk the process through together.
  • Add one step at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add a technical rehearsal step.
  • Map the crew's jobs per step.
  • Build a two-week rehearsal calendar.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🖼️Production step cards
  • 💻Order the Steps
  • 📅A blank schedule
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

productioneverything it takes to stage a playauditiona tryout where actors read for rolescastingchoosing which actor plays each rolerehearsala practice session for a performancetechthe work of adding sets, lights, and sounddress rehearsala full practice run as if it were the real showopening nightthe first public performance of a playcuea signal for an action, line, or effect
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What happens at a dress rehearsal?
The cast runs the full show with sets, costumes, lights, and sound, as if it were the real performance.
QUESTION 2
Why do rehearsals come before the performance?
So the cast and crew can practice until the show is polished and ready for an audience.
QUESTION 3
What is the first step in staging a play?
Holding auditions and casting the roles.

Create: a production plan.

Have students pick a short scene, list the steps to stage it, and set a simple schedule, so a production becomes something they can plan. A printable production-steps worksheet is in The Arts library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Putting On a PlayFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Putting On a PlayQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Putting On a PlayPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: audition, casting, cue, dress rehearsal, opening night, production, rehearsal, tech
  1. a practice session for a performance
  2. the work of adding sets, lights, and sound
  3. the first public performance of a play
  4. a signal for an action, line, or effect
  5. choosing which actor plays each role
  6. a full practice run as if it were the real show
  7. everything it takes to stage a play
  8. a tryout where actors read for roles

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What happens at a dress rehearsal?
  2. Why do rehearsals come before the performance?
  3. What is the first step in staging a play?
Answer key — Part A: 1) rehearsal · 2) tech · 3) opening night · 4) cue · 5) casting · 6) dress rehearsal · 7) production · 8) audition
Part B: 1) The cast runs the full show with sets, costumes, lights, and sound, as if it were the real performance. 2) So the cast and crew can practice until the show is polished and ready for an audience. 3) Holding auditions and casting the roles.