YourStateStandards

California K–6 theatre standards

California writes its own theatre standards. They are published as California Arts (2019-), adopted 2019 and are not a version of a national framework. 165 of 167 are matched to a national standard.

Framework
California Arts (2019-)
Adopted
January 2019
Source last checked
July 23, 2026
Read the official document

167 standards, kindergarten through 6th grade

  • K.TH:Cn10K
    With prompting and supports, identify similarities between characters and oneself in dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Cn11.aK
    With prompting and supports, identify skills and knowledge from other areas in dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Cn11.bK
    With prompting and supports, use listening skills to participate in and observe a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Cr1.aK
    With prompting and supports, invent and inhabit an imaginary elsewhere in dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Cr1.cK
    With prompting and supports, use nonrepresentational materials to create props, puppets, and costume pieces for dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Cr2.aK
    With prompting and supports, interact with peers and contribute to dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Cr2.bK
    With prompting and supports, express original ideas in dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Cr3.aK
    With prompting and supports, ask and answer questions during dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Pr4.aK
    With prompting and supports, identify characters and setting in dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Pr5.aK
    With prompting and supports, understand that voice and sound are fundamental to dramatic play and guided drama experiences.
  • K.TH:Pr5.bK
    With prompting and supports, explore and experiment with various technical theatre elements in dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Pr6K
    With prompting and supports, use voice and sound in dramatic play or a guided drama experience and share with others.
  • K.TH:Re7K
    With prompting and supports, express an emotional response to characters in dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Re8.aK
    With prompting and supports, identify preferences in dramatic play, a guided drama experience, or ageappropriate theatre performance.
  • K.TH:Re8.bK
    With prompting and supports, name and describe settings in dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Re8.cK
    With prompting and supports, describe how personal emotions and choices compare to the emotions and choices of characters in dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • K.TH:Re9.aK
    With prompting and supports, discuss and make decisions with others in dramatic play or a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Cn101
    Identify character emotions in a guided drama experience and relate it to personal experience.
  • 1.TH:Cn11.1.a1
    Apply skills and knowledge from different art forms and content areas in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Cn11.1.b1
    Use active listening skills to participate in and observe a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Cn11.2.a1
    Identify similarities and differences in stories from one’s own community in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Cn11.2.b1
    Collaborate on the creation of a short scene based on a fictional literary source in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Cr1.a1
    Propose potential choices characters could make in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Cr1.b1
    Identify ways in which gestures and movement may be used to create or retell a story in guided drama experiences.
  • 1.TH:Cr1.c1
    Collaborate with peers to conceptualize costumes and props in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Cr2.a1
    Contribute to the development of a sequential plot in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Cr2.b1
    With prompting and supports, participate in group decision making in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Cr3.a1
    Contribute to the adaptation of the plot in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Cr3.b1
    Identify similarities and differences in sounds and movements in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Cr3.c1
    Collaborate to imagine multiple representations of a single object in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Pr4.a1
    Describe a story’s character actions and dialogue in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Pr4.b1
    Use body, face, gestures, and voice to communicate character traits and emotions in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Pr5.a1
    With prompting and supports, identify and understand that physical movement is fundamental to guided drama experiences.
  • 1.TH:Pr5.b1
    With prompting and supports, identify technical theatre elements that can be used in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Pr61
    With prompting and supports, use movement and gestures to communicate emotions in a guided drama experience and share with others.
  • 1.TH:Re71
    Recall choices made in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Re8.a1
    Explain preferences and emotions in a guided drama experience or ageappropriate theatre performance.
  • 1.TH:Re8.b1
    Identify causes of character actions in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Re8.c1
    Explain or use text and pictures to describe how personal emotions and choices compare to the emotions and choices of characters in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Re9.a1
    Build on others’ ideas in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Re9.b1
    Compare and contrast the experiences of characters in a guided drama experience.
  • 1.TH:Re9.c1
    Identify props and costumes that might be used in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cn102
    Relate character experiences to personal experiences in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cn11.1.a2
    Determine appropriate skills and knowledge from different art forms and content areas to apply in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cn11.1.b2
    Use appropriate responses to react to a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cn11.2.a2
    Identify similarities and differences in stories from multiple cultures in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cn11.2.b2
    Collaborate on the creation of a short scene based on a nonfiction literary source in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cr1.a2
    Propose potential new details to plot and story in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cr1.b2
    Identify ways in which voice and sounds may be used to create or retell a story in guided drama experiences.
  • 2.TH:Cr1.c2
    Collaborate with peers to conceptualize scenery in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cr2.a2
    Collaborate with peers to devise meaningful dialogue in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cr2.b2
    Contribute ideas and make decisions as a group to advance a story in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cr3.a2
    Contribute to the adaptation of dialogue in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cr3.b2
    Use and adapt sounds and movements in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Cr3.c2
    Independently generate multiple representations of a single object in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Pr4.a2
    Interpret story elements in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Pr4.b2
    Alter voice and body to expand and articulate nuances of a character in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Pr5.a2
    Demonstrate the relationship between and among body, voice, and mind in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Pr5.b2
    Explore technical theatre elements in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Pr62
    Contribute to group guided drama experiences and informally share with peers.
  • 2.TH:Re72
    Recognize when artistic choices are made in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Re8.a2
    Explain how personal preferences and emotions affect an observer’s response in a guided drama experience or age-appropriate theatre performance.
  • 2.TH:Re8.b2
    Identify causes and consequences of character actions in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Re8.c2
    Explain or use text and pictures to describe how others’ emotions and choices may compare to the emotions and choices of characters in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Re9.a2
    Collaborate on a scene in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Re9.b2
    Describe how characters respond to challenges in a guided drama experience.
  • 2.TH:Re9.c2
    Use a prop or costume in a guided drama experience to describe characters, settings, or events.
  • 3.TH:Cn103
    Use personal experiences and knowledge to make connections to community and culture in a drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Cn11.1.a3
    Identify connections to community, social issues, and other content areas in drama/theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Cn11.1.b3
    Identify responsible practices for creating and adapting drama/ theatre works.
  • 3.TH:Cn11.2.a3
    Explore how stories are adapted from literature to drama/theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Cn11.2.b3
    Examine how artists have historically presented the same stories using different art forms, genres, or drama/ theatre conventions.
  • 3.TH:Cr1.a3
    Create roles, imagined worlds, and improvised stories in a drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Cr1.b3
    Collaborate to determine how characters might move and speak to support the story and given circumstances in drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Cr1.c3
    Imagine and articulate ideas for costumes, props and sets for the environment and characters in a drama/theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Cr2.a3
    Participate in methods of investigation to devise original ideas for a drama/theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Cr2.b3
    Compare ideas with peers and make revisions that will enhance and deepen group drama/theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Cr3.a3
    Collaborate with peers to revise, refine, and adapt ideas to fit the given parameters of a drama/theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Cr3.b3
    Participate and contribute to physical and vocal exploration in an improvised or scripted drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Cr3.c3
    Refine design choices and technical theatre elements to support a devised or scripted drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Pr4.a3
    Apply the elements of dramatic structure to a story and create a drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Pr4.b3
    Explore how movement and voice are incorporated into drama/theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Pr5.a3
    Participate in a variety of physical, vocal, and cognitive exercises that can be used in a group setting for drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Pr5.b3
    Identify the basic technical theatre elements that can be used in drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Pr63
    Share small-group drama/theatre work, with peers as audience.
  • 3.TH:Re73
    Understand and discuss why artistic choices are made in a drama/theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Re8.a3
    Consider multiple personal experiences when participating in or observing a drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Re8.b3
    Consider multiple ways to develop a character using physical characteristics and prop or costume design choices that reflect cultural contexts in drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Re8.c3
    Examine how connections are made between oneself and a character’s emotions in drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Re9.a3
    Understand how and why groups evaluate drama/ theatre work.
  • 3.TH:Re9.b3
    Evaluate and analyze problems and situations in a drama/theatre work from an audience perspective.
  • 3.TH:Re9.c3
    Consider and analyze technical theatre elements from multiple drama/theatre works.
  • 4.TH:Cn104
    Imagine and identify the ways drama/ theatre work reflects the perspectives of a community or culture.
  • 4.TH:Cn11.1.a4
    Respond to community and social issues and incorporate other content areas in drama/theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Cn11.1.b4
    Use responsible practices for creating and adapting drama/ theatre works.
  • 4.TH:Cn11.2.a4
    Investigate crosscultural approaches to storytelling in drama/theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Cn11.2.b4
    Compare the drama/theatre conventions of a given time period with those of the present.
  • 4.TH:Cr1.a4
    Articulate the visual details of imagined worlds and improvised stories that support the given circumstances in a drama/theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Cr1.b4
    Imagine how a character might move and speak to support the story and given circumstances in a drama/theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Cr1.c4
    Visualize and design technical theatre elements that support the story and given circumstances in a drama/theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Cr2.a4
    Collaborate to devise original ideas for a drama/theatre work by asking questions about characters and plots.
  • 4.TH:Cr2.b4
    Make and discuss group decisions and identify responsibilities required to present a drama/theatre work to peers.
  • 4.TH:Cr3.a4
    Revise and refine an improvised or scripted drama/ theatre work through rehearsal and collaborative review.
  • 4.TH:Cr3.b4
    Develop physical and vocal exercise techniques for an improvised or scripted drama/ theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Cr3.c4
    Collaborate on solutions to design and technical theatre element problems that arise in rehearsal for a drama/theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Pr4.a4
    Adapt the dialogue and action to change the story in a drama/theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Pr4.b4
    Make physical choices to develop a character in a drama/theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Pr5.a4
    Practice selected exercises that can be used in a group setting for drama/ theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Pr5.b4
    Propose the use of technical theatre elements in a drama/theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Pr64
    Present a drama/ theatre work to peers as audience and reflect on performance.
  • 4.TH:Re74
    Identify artistic choices made in a drama/theatre work through participation and observation.
  • 4.TH:Re8.a4
    Compare and contrast multiple personal experiences when participating in or observing a drama/ theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Re8.b4
    Compare and contrast the qualities of characters in a drama/theatre work through physical characteristics and prop or costume design choices that reflect cultural contexts.
  • 4.TH:Re8.c4
    Identify and discuss physiological changes connected to emotions in drama/theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Re9.a4
    Develop and implement a plan to evaluate drama/ theatre work.
  • 4.TH:Re9.b4
    Analyze and evaluate a character’s choice in a drama/theatre work from an audience perspective.
  • 4.TH:Re9.c4
    Explore how technical theatre elements may support a theme or idea in a drama/ theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Cn105
    Explain how drama/theatre connects oneself to a community or culture.
  • 5.TH:Cn11.1.a5
    Investigate historical, global, and social issues expressed in drama/ theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Cn11.1.b5
    Explore the ethical responsibilities to oneself and others when observing and performing.
  • 5.TH:Cn11.2.a5
    Analyze commonalities and differences between stories set in different cultures in preparation for a drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Cn11.2.b5
    Identify historical sources that explain drama/theatre terminology and conventions.
  • 5.TH:Cr1.a5
    Identify physical qualities that might reveal a character’s inner traits in the imagined world of a drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Cr1.b5
    Imagine how a character’s inner thoughts impact the story and given circumstances in a drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Cr1.c5
    Propose design ideas that support the story and given circumstances in a drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Cr2.a5
    Devise original ideas for a drama/ theatre work that reflect collective inquiry about characters and their given circumstances.
  • 5.TH:Cr2.b5
    Participate in defined responsibilities required to present a drama/theatre work informally to an audience.
  • 5.TH:Cr3.a5
    Revise and refine an improvised or scripted drama/ theatre work through rehearsal, collaborative review, and reflection.
  • 5.TH:Cr3.b5
    Use physical and vocal exploration for character development in a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Cr3.c5
    Create innovative solutions to design and technical theatre element problems that arise in rehearsal for a drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Pr4.a5
    Describe the underlying thoughts and emotions that create dialogue and action in a drama/ theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Pr4.b5
    Use physical choices to create meaning in a drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Pr5.a5
    Choose acting exercises that can be applied to a drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Pr5.b5
    Demonstrate the use of technical theatre elements in a drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Pr65
    Present drama/ theatre work to an audience.
  • 5.TH:Re75
    Explain personal reactions to artistic choices made in a drama/theatre work through participation and observation.
  • 5.TH:Re8.a5
    Justify responses based on personal experiences when participating in or observing a drama/ theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Re8.b5
    Explain responses to characters based on cultural contexts when participating in or observing drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Re8.c5
    Investigate the effects of emotions on posture, gesture, breathing, and vocal intonation in a drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Re9.a5
    Develop multiple criteria to evaluate drama/theatre work.
  • 5.TH:Re9.b5
    Analyze and evaluate a character’s circumstances in a drama/theatre work from an audience perspective.
  • 5.TH:Re9.c5
    Assess how technical theatre elements represent the theme of a drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Cn106
    Explain how the actions and motivations of characters in a drama/ theatre work impact perspectives of a community or culture.
  • 6.TH:Cn11.1.a6
    Identify universal themes or common social issues and express them through a drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Cn11.1.b6
    Explore the ethical responsibilities to oneself and others when recording, posting, and sharing through the internet, social media, and other communication formats.
  • 6.TH:Cn11.2.a6
    Research and analyze two different versions of the same drama/theatre story to determine differences and similarities in the visual and aural world of each story.
  • 6.TH:Cn11.2.b6
    Investigate the time period and place of a drama/theatre work to better understand performance and design choices.
  • 6.TH:Cr1.a6
    Identify possible solutions to staging challenges in a drama/ theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Cr1.b6
    Explore a scripted or improvised character by imagining the given circumstances in a drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Cr1.c6
    Identify solutions to design challenges in a drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Cr2.a6
    Use critical analysis to improve, refine, and evolve original ideas and artistic choices in a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Cr2.b6
    Contribute ideas and accept and incorporate the ideas of others in preparing or devising drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Cr3.a6
    Receive and incorporate feedback to refine a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Cr3.b6
    Identify effective physical and vocal traits of characters in a drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Cr3.c6
    Explore planned designs during the rehearsal process for a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Pr4.a6
    Identify the essential events in a story or script that make up the dramatic structure in a drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Pr4.b6
    Experiment with various physical choices to communicate character in a drama/ theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Pr5.a6
    Recognize how acting exercises and techniques can be applied to a drama/ theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Pr5.b6
    Articulate how technical theatre elements are integrated into a drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Pr66
    Adapt a piece of literature and present it for an audience.
  • 6.TH:Re76
    Describe and record personal reactions to artistic choices in a drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Re8.a6
    Explain how artists make choices based on personal experience in a drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Re8.b6
    Identify cultural contexts that may influence the evaluation of a drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Re8.c6
    Identify personal aesthetics, preferences, and beliefs through participation in or observation of drama/ theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Re9.a6
    Use supporting evidence and criteria to evaluate drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Re9.b6
    Identify a specific audience or purpose for a drama/theatre work.
  • 6.TH:Re9.c6
    Identify the technical theatre elements used in a drama/theatre work to justify aesthetic choices.

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