This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 12 titles deal with the following topics: (1) awareness of self, awareness of environment, mental imagery, communicative competency, and theatrical improvisation; (2) the evolution of scenography in the Western theatre; (3)…

The effect of lecture-demonstrations and workshops on changing elementary school children's attitudes toward drama (acting), music, dance and opera is the focus of this experimental report. Three self-report interest scales and a peer interest rating were administered in a pretest post-test format. The results indicated only slight attitude change…

Presents a rationale for viewing theatre as a form of education, and looks at several different ideas for why and how drama should be taught; considers what types of skills children should acquire from a theatre class, and whether drama should focus on the internal, subjective experience of theatre, or the external mechanics of it. (JC)

Recounts the difficulties and ultimate success of a production of Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" by fifth-and sixth-grade students. (RL)

The Fall 1972 issue of this publication focuses on oral interpretation, readers theatre, and creative dramatics. The lead article is on the subject of readers theatre for teaching interpretation to elementary school children. Two articles discuss the roles of creative dramatics and readers theatre in the high school curriculum. Relationships…

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…

Suggesting that Readers Theatre is a simple, effective, and risk-free way to get K-8 children reading, this book provides strategies, organizers, and scripts that can be used as is or as models for readers' own scripts. The book provides ideas for planning and organizing Readers Theatre; oral interpretation; connecting Readers Theatre to…

Readers theater is a storytelling device that stimulates the imagination and promotes all of the language arts. Readers theater is an oral interpretation of a piece of literature read in a dramatic style. It involves and motivates students, energizes the language arts program, and stimulates learning. Geared for children in grades 1-4, this book…

Although Will Rogers often described himself as "just a cowboy with a lot of luck," he was more than that. At one time or another he was a vaudeville entertainer, film star, world traveler, author, columnist, and after-dinner speaker. The most beloved figure of his time, this famous humorist was also part Cherokee Indian. Rogers was born…

These curriculum guides are designed to introduce drama to students at the third and fourth grade level. The teacher's guide for each of the two grade levels presents 40 lessons. Each lesson includes a description of objectives and various exercises, including movement warm-ups, movement exercises, imagination exercises, composition assignments,…

These curriculum guides are designed to introduce drama to students at the fifth and sixth grade level. The teacher's guide for each of the two grade levels presents 41 lessons. Each lesson includes a description of objectives and various exercises, including movement warm-ups, concentration warm-ups, descriptions of the character type to be…

This review of current uses of drama in the teaching of literature deals with drama that is "concerned with experience by the participants, irrespective of any function of communication to an audience." Chapters are devoted to (1) the British-influenced Dartmouth Seminar proposals emphasizing drama and oral language, (2) American…

A study defined and measured empathy in relationship to sympathy, aesthetic distance, imagination, dramatic predispositions, and identification with characters in theater for young audiences. Subjects, 88 children in grades 1, 3, and 5, were interviewed individually after viewing "Crying to Laugh," a presentational play about the healthy…