- Definition
The "elements of drama" are the basic parts that make up a play or story, like the characters, the main idea or focus, when and where it takes place, how characters relate to each other, and the suspense that keeps you wondering what will happen next.
In a scene where a character is lost in a forest at night, the place (forest) and time (night) work together to create tension.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Elements of drama are like the building blocks for a pretend game: who the characters are, where they are, and what exciting problem they need to solve.
Ask your child: If we made up a play right now, what would the big problem be?
Common mix-up: Kids may think drama is just 'putting on a play.' It’s really about using specific tools like character, relationships, and tension to build an interesting world and story.
Examples
- A character who is a shy big sister trying to protect her loud little brother shows a specific relationship.
- Two friends arguing over a broken toy builds tension because the audience doesn't know if they will make up.
elements of drama 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 ↗
