- Definition
Blocking" is like drawing a map for the actors on stage, showing them exactly where to stand and when to move during a play.
The director tells one actor to cross the stage and stand by the window on a specific line.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Blocking is like drawing the routes on a football play diagram, but for actors on a stage.
Ask your child: If you were directing this scene, where would you have the characters stand?
Common mix-up: Kids might think actors move around on stage however they feel. Blocking is actually a set of carefully planned movements that help tell the story.
Examples
- Having two characters start far apart and move closer together as they argue to show rising tension.
- An actor is instructed to sit down on the couch when they deliver a sad line.
blocking is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
