Teachers are our partners in the classroom.  We count on teachers to help bridge content between sessions in our In-school Playwriting program.  Teachers help direct students to our After-School Playwriting Programs. Teachers contact us to book the Express tour.  In short, we couldn’t do the work we do without classroom teachers.  

We’ve assembled a number of resources below, including links to information about our programs, sample lesson plans and worksheets. We look forward to working with you!

YPT offers the following programs to teach students to write plays. If you’re interested in bringing one of our programs to your school or community center, fill out an application form. (Forms are available at the bottom of each page.) All of our curriculum is aligned with DC Public Schools (D.C.P.S.) English Language Standards.  Students working with YPT have demonstrated enhanced literacy skills in such key areas as punctuation and grammar.

• In-School Playwriting Program
• After-School Playwriting Program
• Summer Playwriting Series
• Playwrights in Residence Program

The attached documents give you an example of our work in the classroom. We’ve included lesson plans as well as worksheets and vocabulary lists. When you click on them, your browser will ask you to save or view the Word document.

Worksheets:

• Important Vocabulary for Playwriting - Includes terms such as Protagonist, Conflict and Objective.
• Character Questionnaire - This worksheet helps students to imagine their characters in detail. 
• Seeds of a Play - This worksheet helps students find inspiration.
• The Five Stages of Playwriting - These stages can help you structure your classroom work. 
• Basic Play Elements - This sheet outlines the basic structure of a play.

Lesson Plans:

• Character and Conflict - This interactive lesson plan helps students explore key concepts in playwriting.
• The Need to Tell - This interactive lesson plan helps students add urgency to their work.
• Dramatic Structure - This interactive lesson plan introduces students to the basics of dramatic structure.

Click here for more information on the Express Tour.

Looking for more plays to read? The links below will take you to online retailers where you can order more.  And don’t forget to check your local library!

• New Dramatists
• Drama Bookshop

Looking to see more theater? Washington, D.C. is full of opportunities.  Visit the following links for more information on what’s playing around town right now.

• Helen Hayes Awards Washington Area Theater Directory
• League of Washington Theaters Member Theaters
• Potomac Stages Theater Listings

Visit our FAQ to see if you can find some more answers.

• Frequently Asked Questions