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EDUCATION:
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Early Years/Foundation Stage
Drama with early years is structured around the activities which are already part of young children's development: action rhymes and songs; follow-my-leader games; play and role play; whole group mime and movement activities.
The focus with any drama work, therefore, should arise from these elements and many teachers already utilise drama methods without realising it.
The important aspect of drama with young children is that, when approached in a positive and focussed manner, it can build confidence, develop speaking and listening skills, encourage positive group interaction and increase the child's self-awareness as part of their social circle.
Many advocates of drama with early years feel that using this subject as a development 'tool' in this way increases their ability to learn in later years. Many European countries impose no structured learning on their children until they are 6 or 7 years old, preferring instead to develop their learning ability and skills through structured play. The result is that, at 7 and 8 years old, they learn and absorb information much more thoroughly and quickly, having been 'prepared for learning' and test results have indicated much higher attainments.
Even simple 'throwing and catching' games have their basis in drama and can help to develop the fine motor skills that young children will require in order to be able to hold a pencil. Circle time can, therefore, be used productively with activities which will develop the creative, social, communication and physical skills of young children.
Suggestions for drama activities include:-
Play physical games to establish rules and appropriate responses - any tag games or simple running-around games are excellent.
Use clapping games to develop speaking and listening skills, these also work well when used as icebreakers and name games.
Simple movement exercises, such as mirrors, robots, statues, etc. will increase spatial awareness and further develop concentration skills. Musical Statues is an excellent example of a valid movement game.
Follow-my-leader and copying games and exercises are good for building confidence and introducing work in a non-threatening way.
Mime work is excellent for introducing the concept of 'pretending'.
Use any stimulus you like: nursery rhymes, songs, stories, music, pictures, sounds, etc. Young children respond well to a specified context.
Don't be afraid to allow ideas to come from them - ask them what they would like to 'pretend' and allow roles and work to develop from their ideas.
Spend several sessions just on games and simple exercises to establish boundaries and modes of behaviour before moving on to anything more complex.
Remember that much of the drama work with this age range is a natural extension of their play.
Go to Drama Games for specific drama games to try. |
