8-Week Drama Lesson Plans for the Play The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School

8-Week Drama Plan

Play: The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School (by D. M. Larson, Freedrama.net)
Format: 2–3 rehearsals per week

Week 1 – Introduction & Casting

• Day 1: Icebreakers (name + gesture, improv game like “Yes, Let’s”). Introduce the play. Teacher or volunteers read a few favorite scenes aloud to spark excitement.
• Day 2: Full group read-through. Students rotate roles to hear different voices.
• Day 3: Casting. Assign roles (balance speaking lines; combine/split if needed). Hand out scripts.

Goal: Everyone understands the story and has a part.

Week 2 – First Read-Throughs & Character Work

• Day 1: Read Act 1 (or first half of play) with assigned parts. Pause to discuss characters’ personalities.
• Day 2: Read Act 2 (or rest of play). Talk about the “tone” (funny, silly, exaggerated).
• Day 3: Character Hot-Seating – each student answers questions in character (“What’s your favorite class?” “What annoys you most at school?”).

Goal: Students start to “own” their characters.

Week 3 – Blocking Part 1

• Day 1: Block (stage) first section of the play. Decide entrances/exits, standing/sitting, gestures.
• Day 2: Block the next section. Keep movements simple and classroom-friendly.
• Day 3: Run both sections back-to-back.

Goal: Everyone knows where to be on stage in the first half.

Week 4 – Blocking Part 2

• Day 1: Block remaining sections of play.
• Day 2: Review all blocking from beginning to end.
• Day 3: Add expression and volume—encourage students to “play it big.”

Goal: Whole play is staged.

Week 5 – Deepening Performance

• Day 1: Character Walks – students walk around as their character (shy, bossy, silly, cool, etc.).
• Day 2: Run Act 1 with focus on character voices and gestures.
• Day 3: Run Act 2 with same focus.

Goal: Build character consistency and stage confidence.

Week 6 – First Full Run-Throughs

• Day 1: Run the entire play with scripts. Don’t stop unless necessary.
• Day 2: Notes + problem-solving (fix pacing, overlapping lines, entrances).
• Day 3: Run again with improvements.

Goal: Students see the “big picture” and practice stamina.

Week 7 – Polishing

• Day 1: Work specific tricky scenes (fast dialogue, comic timing).
• Day 2: Add simple props/costumes (notebook, backpacks, hats). Practice using them.
• Day 3: Full run in performance order with props.

Goal: The play feels polished and performance-ready.

Week 8 – Performance Week

• Day 1: Dress rehearsal (costumes, props, entrances, exits).
• Day 2: Final run (no stopping, treat as a show).
• Day 3: Performance! Invite another class, families, or record it. End with a cast celebration.

Goal: Students share their work proudly.

✨ Tips for this play

• It’s written as a variety show style (different skits about school), so you can easily split rehearsal into chunks.
• If you have a large class, you can double-cast certain roles or give students cameo bits.
• Keep rehearsals fun—some scenes are silly and work best when students exaggerate.

Student Rehearsal Calendar

Play: The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School
Performance Date: Week 8

Week 1 – Getting Started

• 🎲 Icebreaker games & improv fun
• 📖 Read the play together
• 🎭 Casting – everyone gets a role!

Week 2 – Meet Your Character

• 📖 Read scenes with your part
• 🎭 Talk about your character (What are they like? How do they act?)
• 🎤 Practice voices, expressions, and emotions

Week 3 – Blocking (Part 1)

• 🎭 Learn where to stand, sit, and move for the first half of the play
• 🤸 Try out gestures and movement
• 🔁 Run the first half together

Week 4 – Blocking (Part 2)

• 🎭 Stage the second half of the play
• 🔁 Run through from beginning to end (with stopping)
• 🎤 Practice using louder voices and bigger emotions

Week 5 – Becoming Your Character

• 🚶 Walk and talk like your character
• 🎭 Practice Act 1 with character voices and actions
• 🎭 Practice Act 2 with character voices and actions

Week 6 – Full Play Run

• 🎬 Run the whole play (with scripts)
• 📝 Fix entrances, lines, and timing
• 🔁 Do another full run with improvements

Week 7 – Adding Props & Costumes

• 🎒 Bring simple props (notebooks, backpacks, hats, etc.)
• 🎭 Practice tricky scenes (comedy timing, group scenes)
• 🎬 Full run with props and costumes

Week 8 – Showtime!

• 🎭 Day 1: Dress Rehearsal (full costumes + props)
• 🎬 Day 2: Final Run (no stopping!)
• 🌟 Day 3: Performance Day – Have fun, do your best, take a bow!

✨ Student Tips

• Always bring your script.
• Highlight your lines.
• Practice 5–10 minutes at home.
• Be supportive—cheer each other on!

Play: The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School (by D. M. Larson, Freedrama.net)