Activity Lesson Plans

Introduction
Students have read about the structure of a play and preparing for a part. Before they complete the crossword puzzle, you may wish to have students create posters that illustrate the elements of a play. In addition, you may wish to have the class brainstorm different memorization techniques.

Lesson Description
Students will practice the vocabulary words for this chapter by completing a crossword puzzle. To get directions, they can press the Instructions button in the lower left corner. If they need a hint, they can press the Word List button. After finishing the puzzle, they can press Check to see how they did.

Instructional Objectives
1. Students will match vocabulary words with their definitions.
2. Students will spell vocabulary words correctly.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. theme: the basic idea or purpose of a play; it ties together all the characters and events
2. climax: turning point in the action of a play
3. act: major division of a play
4. comedy: a play that presents its theme and characters in a humorous way; all characters come together at the end of the play
5. business: small movements and actions that do not require the actor to move from place to place
6. cues: the dialogue, sounds, movement, or business signaling an actor or technician to respond as rehearsed
7. melodrama: an exaggerated, fast-moving play in which action is more important than characterization
8. plot: the arrangement of the incidents that take place in a play
9. antagonist: the character opposing the protagonist
10. tragedy: a play that deals with a serious situation in a serious way; the protagonist dies or is defeated at the end of the play
11. exposition: detailed information revealing the facts of the plot
12. spectacle: all visual elements of production, such as scenery, properties, lighting, costumes, makeup, stage movement, and dance
13. subtext: the underlying meaning or interpretation of a line; it is not indicated in the script but is supplied by the actor

GO TO STUDENT ACTIVITY [link to crossword puzzle]