Drama can be found in many different genres - not just plays.
A novel like Huck Finn or a poem like If by Rudyard Kipling could be used in Reader's Theater (see below)
It is important for the students to understand the background/context of the piece. If a student is reading The Great Gatsby
it is useful to be familiar with the structure of American social class during the 1920's - this same concept is very important with reading and interpreting drama.
Many different types of genres can be taught as 'drama.' Even a non-fiction piece or a lesson in history. If the students are reading about the civil war, a dramatic interpretation of the Gettysburg Address or Lincoln's assassination could greatly assist understanding and make the information more lifelike or realistic.
Although "Drama" is traditionally associated with plays or theater, it is important to remember that there is drama involved in all of literature. With that in mind, it becomes a creative endeavor for the students to transform their novels or poetry into performances.
It is important for novels and plays to be traditionally read, also, as a means of familiarizing oneself with the writing. The strategies listed below will ultimately increase the understanding and appreciation for literature.
There is a huge spectrum of what you can do; from reading the works aloud in class to full production (including costumes, lighting, etc.)
Sixth Grade Theater Standards
1. Playmaking
Collaborate to select interrelated characters, environments and situations that create suspense
Recognize how themes help interrelate characters, environments and situation
Plan dialogue and physical attributes to focus on characterization
2. Acting
Develop body awareness and spatial perception through movement and pantomime
Develop awareness of improvisation - check out this page: Improv Theme Page
Develop expressive use of the voice
3. Understanding Art Forms
Understand the relationship between audience and performing arts
Plan and explain audience etiquette
Understand the use of visual, aural, and kinetic elements
4. Analyzing and Constructing Meanings
Analyze how the world of drama is similar/different to real world
Reader's Theater
Reader's Theater has many different styles but all share the same basic characteristics.
narration serves as framework for dramatic representation
Stages/costumes are not used and if they are they are simple and suggestive
there is no full memorization, scripts are to be used freely during presentation
Reader's Theatre is simply displaying literature in a dramatic form. It was originally used at the college level, but now is being used in earlier education. Reader's Theater typically makes younger learners more engaged with the material because the drama aspect is a form of teamwork. Because of this, if there is a book related to the play students are more likely to read it to be more familiar with their character/the performance. Reader's Theater is also useful for social studies classrooms because students can more easily identify with different cultures by dramatically presenting that particular way of life. For more information, go to: Reader's Theater
Icebreakers
Icebreakers for dramatic lessons, such as Reader's Theater, are typically physical, making students wake up their bodies, get used to moving around infront of eachother, and form physical connections together that will later help with the dramatic representation. Here are a couple suggestions:
The Gauntlet
The gauntlet requires the class to form two straight, equal lines about six feet across from each other. These are the walls. Two volunteers, one on each end, are blindfolded. One individual is the hunter and the other the prey. The hunter must touch the hunted before they reach the other side of the gauntlet. The hunted tries to make it to the end of the gauntlet without being touched by the hunter. This exercise defines clear objectives, explores different tactics, and challenger the students’ sensory skills.
Shrinks
Before the class begins, write down different disorders (serious or absurd) or problems that someone might go to a psychologist for on little pieces of paper. Have students draw slips of paper. Split the class in half. For the first round, group A will be the shrinks and group B will be patients. For the second round, roles will be reversed. The shrinks can ask the patients any questions, except What is you Disorder?, in order to guess what the person is suffering from. If one of the shrinks guesses a patient’s disorder, the patient can join the shrinks and begin questioning the other patients. Sample disorders: claustrophobia, fear of bugs, nervous ticks, uses a color in every answer, etc.
Multi-genre Ideas
it is useful to be familiar with the structure of American social class during the 1920's - this same concept is very important with reading and interpreting drama.
Sixth Grade Theater Standards
1. Playmaking
- Collaborate to select interrelated characters, environments and situations that create suspense
- Recognize how themes help interrelate characters, environments and situation
- Plan dialogue and physical attributes to focus on characterization
2. Acting- Develop body awareness and spatial perception through movement and pantomime
- Develop awareness of improvisation - check out this page: Improv Theme Page
- Develop expressive use of the voice
3. Understanding Art Forms- Understand the relationship between audience and performing arts
- Plan and explain audience etiquette
- Understand the use of visual, aural, and kinetic elements
4. Analyzing and Constructing MeaningsReader's Theater
Reader's Theater has many different styles but all share the same basic characteristics.
Reader's Theatre is simply displaying literature in a dramatic form. It was originally used at the college level, but now is being used in earlier education. Reader's Theater typically makes younger learners more engaged with the material because the drama aspect is a form of teamwork. Because of this, if there is a book related to the play students are more likely to read it to be more familiar with their character/the performance. Reader's Theater is also useful for social studies classrooms because students can more easily identify with different cultures by dramatically presenting that particular way of life. For more information, go to: Reader's Theater
Icebreakers
Icebreakers for dramatic lessons, such as Reader's Theater, are typically physical, making students wake up their bodies, get used to moving around infront of eachother, and form physical connections together that will later help with the dramatic representation. Here are a couple suggestions:
The gauntlet requires the class to form two straight, equal lines about six feet across from each other. These are the walls. Two volunteers, one on each end, are blindfolded. One individual is the hunter and the other the prey. The hunter must touch the hunted before they reach the other side of the gauntlet. The hunted tries to make it to the end of the gauntlet without being touched by the hunter. This exercise defines clear objectives, explores different tactics, and challenger the students’ sensory skills.
Before the class begins, write down different disorders (serious or absurd) or problems that someone might go to a psychologist for on little pieces of paper. Have students draw slips of paper. Split the class in half. For the first round, group A will be the shrinks and group B will be patients. For the second round, roles will be reversed. The shrinks can ask the patients any questions, except What is you Disorder?, in order to guess what the person is suffering from. If one of the shrinks guesses a patient’s disorder, the patient can join the shrinks and begin questioning the other patients. Sample disorders: claustrophobia, fear of bugs, nervous ticks, uses a color in every answer, etc.
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