Feeling Nervous...

It's day one of drama, and I must admit.. I've been biting my nails all morning. What should I expect? Well, in high school drama meant:

• memorizing scripts
• being really outgoing
• being comfortable in front of an audience
• being LOUD
• having other talents like a sense of humour, being able to dance, or sing, or play piano

I am definitely not looking forward to this. Oh quick! Here comes the teacher. Look down at your paper. Do not make eye contact. I repeat: 

Do

not

make

eye

contact...

If she doesn't see you.. she won't call on you. If she doesn't call on you, you won't have to participate. You can just be that wall flower you are so used to being. Blend in with your surroundings. Hide behind someone who is willing to participate. If you can remember these key steps -- you will survive!! 

STRATEGIES

Living Venn Diagram
Using tape to divide the floor into three groups: "drama", "theatre" and "both" a Venn Diagram can come to life! Ask students a question and see where they place themselves within the living Venn Diagram.

This strategy may be used for any subject whether it is curriculum based or not! This is a great tool to use for diagnostic assessment. This is also a great tool to use when you want to learn more about your students!

In a Group Of...
Have students walk around the classroom, and mingle amongst each other. The instructor may call out "In a group of 2, make a triangle!" and students will have to pair up with another individual and make that shape with their body. Repeat this exercise multiple times, using different group sizes, and have them create different types of shapes. 

This is a great way for students to exercise creativity and to improve their ability to work collaboratively. This strategy can also be used across the curriculum. You could use it for science (animals, properties of matter), math (shapes, angles), art (different types of lines). This is also great for getting students to work with others! It really encourages you to mingle with other people in the class. This could be used as an icebreaker at the beginning of a new school year! This exercise can be used at any age level! From kindergarteners all the way up to adults - anyone can take part in this fun and inclusive activity (even those who fear drama!)


Embodied Scale
Have students, without talking, line themselves up in order of birthdays - designate one end of the room to represent January and the other end to represent December. Students will be required to place themselves in order without speaking. 
Modify: Have students practice the same activity with a different ranking system - perhaps their pinky size! Have students measure the length of their pinky in centimeters. Record the data as a class and calculate the mean, median and mode. 

This is a useful strategy in several different math strands. I actually practiced this in my placement when I was teaching Data Management to my Grade 2 class. We first created an embodied scale graph on our birthdays and later transformed that into a pictograph.

Theory

Learners Theory

People Learn:

10% of what they hear

20% of what they read

30% of what they see

50% of what they write or draw

70% of what they discuss

80% of what they do or experience

90% of what they teach to others

Well... class is over, and I survived! I did it! And, I did not follow the steps of keeping my eyes on my paper and hiding behind my classmates. We started the class with a Living Venn Diagram - this was a safe exercise which didn't single me out at all! I didn't need to memorize lines, or express my own personal beliefs. I got to show, with my BODY, just by standing in a designated area on the floor, what I felt! It was wonderful. I also learned, that there is a huge difference between theater (what I thought drama was!) and was Drama actually IS!

I also was able to actually practice some of these drama strategies in my placement -- who know! I could teach drama! The kids actually loved it - so so so much! For those students who are not "math people" but more of an "arts person" this was a great way to get them involved. I used the embodied scale for birthdays and it was a HUGE hit! Lots of fun!

I'm feeling a lot better about drama. Until next week -- I present! EEK! Wish me luck..... Although, according to the learners theory, I will learn 90% of what I teach... so next week will be a huge learning experience for me as well!