Using Drama to Teach Curriculum

A STAFF DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP TEACHERS GRADES 4-12

The goal of this workshop is to provide teachers with hands-on interactive drama exercises that bring the Social Studies, Language Arts and Science curriculums alive. Teachers learn how to structure games, set up simulations, and implement techniques that encourage full class participation for embodied learning of content areas. And the materials packet provides several “ready-to-go” mini lessons.

Creative Drama, as distinct from performance-based theater, encourages the “actor in everyone” to explore ideas experientially. Though the students experience a 5-10 minute “Drama Game” as play, studies show the skills needed to create good theater are also the skills needed for effective test-taking, live presentation, and academic learning. Among these are: Focus, Motivation, Sense of Place and Space, Character Building, and Problem-Solving. Teachers will learn how drama helps students to be task-conscious instead of self-conscious in an environment where facts are fueled by imagination and fun.