Online Companion: Creativity and the Arts with Young Children

Chapter 7: Creative Drama in the Early Childhood Classroom

Personal Creativity Journal Entries

7:A

  • Have you been involved in dramatic productions?
  • At what point in your life were you involved?
  • Describe your remembrance of one of these experiences.
  • Was your experience positive or pressure-packed?

7:B

  • Creative drama is demonstrated in children's spontaneous play. Have you observed young children in housekeeping play?
  • What roles did they play?
  • What were some of their scenarios?

7:C

  • List and discuss some of the different types of dramatic activities that can occur with young children.
  • Why do you think these are beneficial?

7:D

  • Brainstorm some unique learning/play centers that could be added to a kindergarten classroom.
  • What materials could be collected or built to encourage the creative involvement of the children?

7:E

  • Have you ever used puppets?
  • When, and in what way?
  • How do you feel about the inclusion of puppets?

7:F

  • What children's literature do you think will inspire young children to "act out" the storyline?
  • Why would these stories work well?

Web Sites

http://Falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/drama.htm-Drama, Storytelling, and Puppetry Links . . . This site, hosted by James Madison University, supports oral interpretation of literature as an effective method of promoting enjoyment of literature, developing oral expression, and increasing reading comprehension. The site lists resources for storytelling, drama, creative dramatics, puppetry, and reader's theater. Contact: Inez Ramsey, Library Science Program, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, Phone: 740-251-0492, and E-mail: ramseyil@jmu.edu

http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/5291/-ThinkQuest . . . ThinkQuest Inc. is a nonprofit organization that offers programs designed to advance education through the use of technology. It is a global network of students, teachers, parents, and technologists dedicated to exploring youth-centered learning on the Internet. The ThinkQuest World encompasses young people, educators, and technologists in more than 100 nations who come together as digital learners, web creators, and net entrepreneurs. This site, created by several elementary school students, is a valuable resource for both students and teachers. It contains a range of useful material including a theatre history guide, glossary of terms, games, and a skit, and comes complete with resources, references, and an online history quiz. This is a great example of how technology can be used as part of a theater and drama program. Contact: ThinkQuest at E-mail: cybrarian@thinkquest.org and the web page designers at E-mail: 5291@advanced.org

http://www.aate.com/-American Alliance for Theatre and Education . . . The mission of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education is to promote standards of excellence in theatre and theatre education. AATE achieves this mission by disseminating quality practices in theatre and theatre education, connecting artists, educators, researchers, and scholars with each other, and by providing opportunities for the membership to learn, exchange, expand, and diversify their work, the audience, and their perspectives. Contact: AATE, Theatre Department, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 872002, Tempe, AZ 85287-2002, Phone: 480-965-6064, and E-mail: aate.info@asu.edu

http://www.creativedrama.com/-Drama Links . . . This Web site contains several interesting links for drama

http://www.etassoc.org-Educational Theatre Association . . . The Educational Theatre Association provides a broad range of professional services and support to theatre educators and their students. Through the International Thespian Society, the student honorary branch, the Educational Theatre Association has been recognizing excellent work in school theatre for more than seventy years. Contact: Educational Theatre Association, 2343 Auburn Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45219-2815, Phone: 513-421-3900, and Fax: 513-421-7077

http://www.itdc.sbcss.k12.ca.us/curriculum/puppetry.html-The World of Puppets . . . A Webquest for kindergarten through second grade entitled The World of Puppets. This lesson explores world cultures through their puppetry. Students learn about puppets that are used in various cultures and create their own. The Internet experiences in this lesson are designed to be teacher-directed, whole class experiences. A computer hooked to a TV or other presentation system is recommended for viewing this Webquest lesson. Contact by E-mail: itdc@sbcss.k12.ca.us

http://www.poetryteachers.com/index.html-Poetry Resources . . . Meadowbrook Press gives educators ideas about how to teach poetry in fun and interesting ways by including funny poems, poetry contests, and more. Contact: Meadowbrook Press, 5451 Smetana Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55343, Phone: 800-338-2232, Fax: 952-930-1940, E-mail: bmadsen@meadowbrookpress.com

http://www.sagecraft.com/puppetry/-Puppetry Home Page . . . The Puppetry Home Page is produced by Rose Sage of Sagecraft Productions and Nick Barone of Nick Barone Puppets. The Puppetry Home Page is a free resource for the puppetry community and is dedicated to helping people connect with the world of puppetry. Contact by E-mail: RoseSage@sagecraft.com

http://www.storytellingcenter.net/home.htm-Storytelling Foundation International . . . Storytelling encompasses virtually every facet of human endeavor. This ancient tradition is at the heart of human experience, and is just as vital today, just as much a thread of our social fabric, as ever before. Storytelling Foundation International, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, builds on a 25-year history to promote the power of storytelling and its creative applications to promote a better world. Contact: Storytelling Foundation International, 116 W Main St., Jonesborough, TN 37659, Phone: 800-952-8392 or 423-753-2171, Fax: 423-913-8219, and E-mail: info@storytellingfoundation.net

http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/erachi/-Drama Teacher's Resource Room . . . The Drama Teacher's Resource Room is a place where you can kick back and find some ideas for your classroom or production. This site strives to make it easier for teachers to encourage creative and challenging experiences for students in drama classrooms. Contact: Thornton Consulting & Training Services, Phone: 306-455-2124, Fax: 306-455-2165, and E-mail: DramaTRR@yahoo.com