Dialogue or Stage Direction?

Grade level

Grades 2–4

Time

About 15 minutes

Topic

Reading and writing scripts

Answer key

Yes, page 2 of the PDF

Kids practice

Reading a script, Telling dialogue from stage directions, Writing in script format, Planning a beginning, middle and end

What kids do

Printed on the sheet:

1. Dialogue is what a character says out loud. A stage direction tells the actors what to do, and it is usually written in ( ). Actors do not say stage directions out loud.
2. Lines from a script
3. Where did I put my hat?
4. Who turned off the lights?
5. (looks under the bed)
6. (a door creaks open)
7. Let’s have a snack.
8. (the lights go dark)

Teacher tip

Have kids look for the ( ) first. Each line in ( ) is a stage direction; every other line is dialogue.

How to use it

• Let kids act out their own script with a partner when it is done.
• Read the sample script out loud with two readers so kids hear how it works.
• Read the box at the top of the sheet together, then try the first item out loud as a class.

Watch for

Stories with no problem. A play needs something to go wrong.

Talk about it

• What do stage directions tell the actors?
• What would you try differently next time?

Take it further

Swap scripts and have a partner perform yours.

US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.