Middle Mania! - Imaginative Theater Projects for Middle School Actors

This is a compilation of interactive, collaborative Middle-School Drama projects that guarantee you will never be asked this question. It's written especially for teachers who spend a good part of their summer sifting through piles of bad plays in search of the perfect production to do with Middle-School students

Middle Mania! offers several creative alternatives that are "drama healthy" for kids, providing every student with a chance to get involved. The projects give the shy student a chance to build self-confidence and challenges students to strech their imagination. These projects introduce students to the exciting possiblities drama can provide while building a friendly, community atmosphere.

Projects include -

Solving a Mystery - The Clan Drama - This unit emphasizes the creation of a clan (groups of 4-6) and the writing of a myth that explains a mystery of nature

Rock and Roll Playwriting
Using some 50s songs students are encouraged to come up with a "before" and "after" script that explains the song.

Musical Chairs - with a twist!
Here original poetry, movement, and music is added. Instead of being out, the one left standing recites their poetry. Performance-based musical chairs with no losers.

Hey, Let's Put on a Show!
This chapter explains how you can get an entire middle school focused on the arts for three full days and build community

MAUREEN BRADY JOHNSON has been a teacher and director of theatre for thirty years