Write a Play
Introduction
Write your own play like Princess Pea and Red that can be acted out for your family and friends.
Materials:
- Paper
- Pencil
- Two Flat Sheets
Directions:
- Ask your child what she would like the play to be about. Is it going to be a funny play? Will it be a play about dragons and castles or will it be about going to school? Help her to write down her ideas on a piece of paper.
- Have your child decide who she would like to be in the play and what other characters will be in the play. Does your child have any family members or friends who will be in the play with her?
- Help her to write the play and encourage her to sound out letters and words as you go.
- It may be helpful to start with an outline of the story with a beginning, middle and ending.
- When the play is complete help your child to make a stage for the big performance. You can hang two sheets on a clothing line outside to make a stage. For an indoor stage you can hang two sheets above a doorway with push pins or strong tape. Ask your child if she has any other ideas for her stage. Does she want to decorate it?
- After the stage is complete help your child with her costume for the big show. Use dress up clothes or something from her wardrobe or even your own wardrobe.
Take it further:
- Make a dressing room for the big performance. Have your child draw a star on a sheet of paper. Have her write her name on the star and then color it yellow. Have an adult cut the star out. Hang the star on her bedroom door with tape.
- Make programs for the show. Have your child fold a few pieces of paper in half. On the front she can write the name of her play. She can draw a picture underneath the title of the play. On the inside of the program have her write the names of each character and the names of the people playing them. If she is playing all the characters simply have her write her own name for each one. Most importantly have her write who the play was written by.
Talk about it:
- Ask your child what the best part of making her own play was. Would she want to write another play? What would she do differently next time? What did she learn about writing her own play?
- In the story Princess Gweenie has to be brave so she can save her Dad from the dragon. Talk to your child about what it means to be brave.
