Investigating the nature and value of dance drama as an expressive idiom for elementary school children, this paper discusses foundational concerns about the nature of dance drama, aesthetic content, learnings in dance drama, and the organization of these learnings. Noting that the ideas of dance drama presented have largely emerged from a content…

Stimulating and enjoyable dramatic activities in the classroom can nurture children's natural sympathies with drama. Re-acting a portion of a second-rate television show can help children become more perceptive critics and prepare them to view better drama that the teacher could bring to the classroom. Free, creative rhythmic movement allows…

This curriculum guide for the teaching of composition contains more than sixty lessons for use with third and fourth grade students. Each lesson contains a statement of purpose, a resume, a list of materials, and directions for teaching the lesson. The major sections for both third and fourth grade are: (1) "Let's Pretend with Things,"…

Creativity and the creative arts are important to the portrayal of human experiences through a myriad of forms, including visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and written expression. While these forms of creative expression vary within and across cultural groups, a unifying element embedded in creative works seems to prevail through a continuous search…

One of a series of resource manuals written by participants in the University of North Dakota teacher education programs to help teachers develop more open and responsive classrooms, this booklet focuses on the teaching of creative drama. Following an introduction by Vito Perrone, the titles and authors of the articles are as follows: (1) "'They…

Methods for evaluating the creative endeavors of performing artist-educators in the academic setting are suggested in this paper. The following topics are discussed: the problems involved in evaluating artist-educators with an academic yardstick; factors that cause problems in evaluating performing artist-educators' work; the need to educate…

Although creative expression and drama in the classroom are important in leading education toward a more humanistic approach to learning as well as toward the development of students capable of responding more rationally to the changing world educators have offered few opportunities for creative student expression. Thus, this book focuses on…

Explores what creative drama is, why it should be included in the teaching of both expository and creative writing, and how language arts teachers can implement creative drama activities to increase student success in writing and to improve learning. Describes how using creative drama to enhance creative writing restores authority to students for…

Describes the development and growth of a program at a new York City public elementary school called Growing a Story: A Theatrical Exploration of Imagination for Literacy Enrichment. This arts educational program fosters students' pride of ownership, self-esteem, and interdependence through improvised creation and performance of original…

It is argued that a primary goal of a theatrical production is the making of meaning by the audience through the vehicle of multiple media (i.e. staging, design, sound and lighting effects and so on). Effective rehearsal of these elements affords the greatest opportunity for a coherent interpretation of the text. Although individual rehearsals…

DRAMATIC INTERACTION, THE PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR DEVELOPING THOUGHT AND LANGUAGE, IS AN OFTEN UNEXPLOITED METHOD OF ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS. STUDENTS CAN LEARN ABOUT LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, AND COMPOSITION IN A COHERENT FASHION BY WRITING PLAYS, SHORT STORIES, AND POEMS, OR BY ACTING, INTERPRETING, AND CREATING DRAMA. THE…

In introducing drama into the elementary classroom it is wise to start by having children portray that which they have experienced. First attempts should be short and simple with later attempts more complex and of longer duration. The first section of this bulletin offers numerous types of preliminary activities. The remainder of the booklet…

A collection of thirty royalty-free one-act plays for young players, using a wide range of dramatic forms, imaginative settings and colorful characters, is presented. A variety of subjects is included in these comedies, dramas, spoofs and programs: science fiction, ecology, history, storybook classics, and glimpses into life and folklore of other…

This book discusses ways in which a story teller may plan and prepare an activity and present it to a group. The book may be useful to teachers, recreation workers, parents, volunteer workers--anyone engaged in the participating arts. The author discusses stories, poems, games, and dances and offers suggestions for reading aloud, choral reading,…

A group of British graduate students in drama and movement therapy spent a weekend outdoors engaging in adventure, dramatic, and creative activities that focused on the symbolism of the Earth and increasing awareness of the self, the environment, and spirituality. (SV)