3. DEFINITION
A skit is a short performance in which
the actors make fun of people, events,
and types of literature by imitating
them.
Skits are a clever way to get students to
teach one another without lecturing or
reading a report. Students can role-play
different situations, and those watching
can respond afterward with critiques
and further discussion.
4. Characteristics Involved and
Developed through Classroom Skits
Individual Accountability: Students are each
responsible for a specific part of the skit production,
and to contribute to other parts as needed. If they do
not perform their individual job, or contribute to other
tasks, then the skit will not come together as a whole.
Positive Interdependence: Students work together
and rely on the other members to produce a skit. Each
student may have a specific job, but the students must
communicate with one another, and eventually the
students must pull all of their parts together: to read
the play, practice parts, set up the props, and put on
the production. A single student is not responsible for
the entire production.
5. Social Skills: Students are required to work together, which
means that they must communicate with one another and spend
time together.
Face-to-Face Interaction: Students are working as a group to
develop a skit. They must talk to one another in order to
develop all of the separate parts. They must also practice the
skit, so they will be required to practice their individual parts in
front of one another.
Open Communication: Students must talk to one another and
discuss their ideas for the skit, problems they may be having,
and how the progress is going on each of their individual parts.
Open communication, in turn, builds trust and security because
students must trust their group members and feel safe in order
to express ideas and opinions.
Shared Goals: Students work together on one project.
Although each member has his or her own part, each job is a
small part of the larger project. The students all have the same
end goal of putting on a skit for their class.
6. Materials
Costumes and props will likely be needed for
this lesson, depending on the students’
skits. Students can adapt costumes from a
costume box for their skit or they may use
materials/clothes from home to make their own
costumes. Elaborate costumes are not
necessary. Students can make their own props
and can recycle materials such as boxes and
paper scraps to do so. If all materials for
costumes and props come from the classroom or
home, there should be no cost.
7. Procedure
1. Divide students into groups. If working with a
variety of age/grade levels, divide groups so that
there are equal numbers of the different age/grade
levels in each group. In other words do not have all
fifth graders in one group and all third graders in
another group. It is beneficial for varying age levels
to work together, so that they can learn to get along
with and work with someone older or younger than
themselves.
2. Either assign students to jobs with in their group
related to the production of the skit or have the
students pick their own jobs. The students’ jobs
should be related to their talents and/or interests.
8. Examples of jobs and their
responsibilities include:
Writer
Choreographer
Director
Set designer/builder
Actors
9. 3.Teachers may either provide students with a story
to act out or they can have the students write
their own skits.
4. Decide on a day and time for the acting out of the
skits. Provide a stage area for the students to
perform. It is also fun for the students if the area
in which the performances will occur is set up
like a theater and if “tickets” are “sold” and
required for entry into the play(s). Rows of
chairs can be set up facing the stage area in order
to simulate a theater atmosphere.
5. Finally, have the children perform their skits. The
skits can be acted out just for their class or other
classrooms can be invited in to watch.
10. HOW TO MAKE A SKIT
Developing an Idea
Writing Your Skit
Performing or Filming Your Skit
11. 1.Developing an Idea
Gather inspiration
Brainstorm ideas
Develop your point of view
Outline a beginning, middle, and end
12. 2. Writing Your Skit
Write a first draft
Get into your skit quickly
Keep it short
Remember the rule of three
Build the action up
Keep working on new drafts
13. 3. Performing or Filming Your Skit
Hold auditions
Schedule at least one rehearsal
Perform or film your skit