The best stimulus for any drama work is… questions. However, great drama can arise from using an interesting and stimulating base for the work. Following are various ideas for what to use to stimulate a drama lesson or scheme of work. I have used all of these ideas successfully at some point and with various different age groups.
MUSIC
The following three work well:
'In the Hall of the Mountain King' from the Peer Gynt Overture by Grieg.
Excellent 'spooky' music with gradually increasing volume and tempo.
'March of the Toreadors' from Carmen - Suite No.2 by Bizet.
Interesting repetitive musical patterns and a lively rhythm.
'Inspector Morse' theme by Barrington Pheloung.
Beautiful 'rise and fall' music which lends itself very well to mirror work and many other slow-motion movement pieces.
Also use:
- Country/folk music - full of good, repetitive themes.
- Electronic music - good for work on robots and machines.
- Pop songs, especially those by the Beatles - used for exploring social issues and dilemmas.
- Slapstick music - available on many sound effect CDs - great for mime and movement work.
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POEMS
Search around for anything which has a central character or which highlights an issue strongly, or has good physical or comedy potential. Using poetry as a basis for drama work is explored during the teacher training course 'Primary Drama - Taster Session'. Why not have a look at the poems on this site for inspiration? |
PICTURES / PHOTOGRAPHS 
Find pictures in books, bring photographs from home, search car boot stalls for any interesting old photos.
Pictures from newspapers also work well. Keep your eye out everywhere for anything which is interesting, unusual or which sparks your imagination. |
NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
Excellent for exploring a range of issues and for prompting a variety of drama methods. Try not to choose anything too current or well-known. |
OBJECTS
Search your attic and cupboards for anything slightly old or very interesting and/or unusual. Everyday objects can also have a 'story' built around them if approached in the right manner. A small stick or something equally simple can work well as a base for mime work. |
QUOTATIONS
Buy a book or keep your ear out for anything which sparks your imagination. If it gets you thinking, it will do the same for your pupils! |
STORIES
Reading extracts and then exploring central characters, or 'what happens next', can instigate a variety of drama work. Encouraging them to invent their own stories can also become the basis for drama work. Have a look at the short stories, traditional stories and stories from other cultures. |
FABLES, MORALS, BIBLE STORIES, MYTHS
All of these have a tremendous amount of potential when used as a basis for drama work. You can highlight one small aspect or explore in full detail. Central characters can be used to highlight personal dilemmas and themes and issues can be linked to the pupils' own experiences.
The Fables, Myths & Legends page on this site would be a good starting point! |
