For the first day of drama, we were introduced to some of the key aspects of teaching drama to children. These included role on the wall, freeze frame and teacher in role. This aspect was discussed using a story called “The Lonely Dragon.” We were told a story by the lecturer about a mysterious dragon that lived in the mountains near a small town and kept to itself. We were asked why we thought he could be solitary, and discussed this as a group.
Throughout this story, Andrew became a character who was coming from a distant land to help with the towns “dragon problem”. By integrating himself in the story, he used teacher in role to show when he was a character and when he was the teacher again. He did this by using props, e.g. his name badge. Using this technique allows children to identify when their teacher is performing a role or not. Using props such as badges, scarves, jackets etc. can help indicate this point.
While he played the role of the dragon, we were all the townspeople who were afraid of the dragon. During this, he was able to ensure everyone’s participation by asking questions such as “When did you last see the dragon?” or “Has anyone visited it to find out why it is alone?”. Doing this can have a great impact on pupil participation, as they are adding their own thoughts and ideas into the story therefore are more engaging within the lesson. It can also inspire their creativity and imagination which they could use in an art or writing lesson in the future.
Another aspect that we discussed was freeze frame. This is a good idea to implement if some children are quiet or shy and do not like acting or speaking in front of their peers. This involved making small groups and acting out the ‘picture’ we were trying to show without moving or speaking. For example, we chose to act out the scene of the dragon flying over the town the first time, and the villagers were frightened. Two of my peers acted at the dragon by extending their arms in a flying motion while the rest of us were huddled together with scared expressions.
This would work very effectively in a classroom, as there is no need for additional props, and everyone can engage with the lesson. Again, for those who are uncomfortable talking in front of large groups, this could be an ideal way to incorporate drama into the classroom without making them feel self-conscious.
