Follow the Stage Directions

Grade level

Grades 3–5

Time

About 15 minutes

Topic

The stage and stage directions

Answer key

Yes, page 2 of the PDF

Kids practice

Naming the nine stage areas, Telling stage left from stage right, Following stage directions, Reading a stage plan

What kids do

Printed on the sheet:

1. Use the stage plan: upstage is away from the audience, downstage is toward it, and stage right is on your right as you face the audience.
2. Circle where you end up.
3. 1. Start at center stage. Walk toward the audience.
4. 2. Start at center stage. Walk to your right as you face the audience.
5. 3. Start at center stage. Walk away from the audience.
6. 4. Start at downstage center. Walk to your left as you face the audience.
7. 5. Start at stage right. Walk upstage one area.
8. 6. Start at upstage left. Walk downstage two areas.

Words on this sheet

Stage planUpstage centerusruscuslDownstage centerStage leftStage rightUpstage rightSRCSSLDownstage leftDownstage rightdsrdscdslCenter stageUpstage left

Teacher tip

Let kids put a finger on the stage plan and move it as they read each direction. The finger ends on the answer.

How to use it

• Tape a grid of nine areas on the floor and let kids walk to each one as you call it.
• Keep the Stage Directions Chart out while kids do the other sheets.
• Read the box at the top of the sheet together, then try the first item out loud as a class.

Watch for

Using the audience’s left for stage left. Stage left is always the actor’s left.

Talk about it

• Why is the back of the stage called upstage?
• How did the audience know how your character felt?

Take it further

Play “director says”: call a stage area and kids walk there.

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