What
is Drama?
Drama
is a unique tool to explore and express human feeling.
Drama
is an essential form of behaviour in all cultures, it is a
fundamental human activity.
In this site we are
investigating the benefits Drama can have on child
development when applied functionally within a primary
classroom. Drama has the potential, as a diverse medium, to
enhance cognitive, affective and motor development.
A high degree of
thinking, feeling and moving is involved and subsequently
aids in the development of skills for all other learning
within and outside of schools (transfer of
learning).
Drama is a discrete
skill in itself (acting, theatre, refined skill), and
therefore it is offered as a 'subject' in secondary school.
However Drama is also a tool which is flexible, versatile
and applicable among all areas of the curriculum. Through
its application as a tool in the primary classroom, Drama
can be experienced by all children.
Drama assists in
the development of :
- the use of
imagination
- powers of
creative self expression
- decision making
and problem solving skills
- and
understanding of self and the world
- self confidence,
asense of worth and respect and consideration for
others.
The SACSA Framework
defines Drama as:
'the
enactment of real and imagined events through role-play,
play making and performances, enabling individuals and
groups to explore, shape and represent ideas, feelings and
their consequences in symbolic or dramatic form.'
Types of
Drama
There are many forms
of Drama. Here is a non-exhaustive list with a simple
explanation of each:
Improvisation
/ Let's Pretend
A scene is set,
either by the teacher or the children, and then with little
or no time to prepare a script the students perform before
the class.
Role
Plays
Students are given a
particular role in a scripted play. After rehearsal the play
is performed for the class, school or parents.
Mime
Children use only
facial expressions and body language to pass on a message
tcript to the rest of the class.
Masked
Drama
The main props are
masks. Children then feel less inhibited to perform and
overact while participating in this form of
drama.
Children are given
specific parts to play with a formal script. Using only
their voices they must create the full picture for the rest
of the class. Interpreting content and expressing it using
only the voice.
Puppet
Plays
Children use puppets
to say and do thngs that they may feel too inhibited to say
or do themselves.
Performance
Poetry
While reciting a
poem the children are encourage to act out the story from
the poem.
Radio
Drama
Similar to script
reading with the addition of other sound affects, The
painting of the mental picture is important
There are several
other types of Drama referred to in the SACSA Framework
(www.sacsa.sa.edu.au)
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