Write a Skit!

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Creating a skit takes some planning and effort, like any other type of writing, but the results can be a lot of fun!

• Did you enjoy the video above?

This skit draws on most schools' familiar characters, events, and dialogue.

The crucial first step in writing a skit is choosing a topic.

1. Choose a topic.

Choose a subject that you feel comfortable poking fun at (nicely!). Choose a set of people with whom you're familiar. Here are some suggestions.

• your family
• your neighborhood
• your church
• your school
• one of your classes at school
• your sports team

2. Create characters.

Again, it's easiest to create characters based on people you are familiar with. Many great authors used their own family members as the basis for characters in their novels and plays.

For each character, think about the following.

• physical characteristics (old, young, short, tall)
• personality (loud, quiet, shy, outgoing, nervous, calm)
• motivation (What does this character want or care about?)
• conflicts (What are the obstacles the character faces, or the people they have conflicts with?)
• action (What will this character do in the play?)

3. Choose a setting.

• Will the skit occur in your school, at home, or on the football field?
• Will the weather affect it? (Will it be hot, cold, snowy, rainy, foggy?)
• What time of day will it take place?

4. Decide on a conflict.

All good stories have some conflict. It doesn't have to be a physical or verbal fight, but there should be some tension between some characters.

In the skit you watched above, the conflict was between the teacher and the students.

Here are some common conflicts in literature.

• character vs. character
• character vs. self
• character vs. nature
• character vs. supernatural

5. Decide on a theme.

Skits are amusing but usually contain a serious message. In the video above, one theme is that teachers have a difficult job!

• What do you want the viewers of your skit to learn or think about?
• What is the lesson you want to teach?

Also, remember that, in a play, the story is told through dialogue (people talking) and stage directions (the part that tells the actors what to do and where to go).

Check out this example: A Christmas Carol-Funny Play Script. It's a section of Charles Dicken's short story "A Christmas Carol" adapted into a play for children.

• Did you like how they updated the story with more modern language?
• Did you note the author's use of stage directions?

You're ready to write a skit once you've completed the above steps!

Move to the Got It? section, where you'll print out a sheet to organize these thoughts and consider some tips for writing!