Classroom Drama

September 23rd, 2016

Including Shakespeare in the classroom is essential. Shakespeare, and drama itself, can be used to teach many aspects of English. Shakespeare and drama can be used to teach diversity, language varieties, writing styles, reading, oral abilities, and much more. It can even be used to teach confidence in the classroom by getting students reading and acting in front of each other. 14b31787b89721419ac38d1968300165 14b31787b89721419ac38d1968300165

The ASC’s production of Romeo and Juliet at Longwood University this past week was phenomenal. The performers truly commanded the stage and captured the audience in a way I have never experienced before. The performers were able to make the audience feel as though they were part of the story. Their use of emotions to deliver the lines made the play much more understandable. There were many middle school students at the production, and watching them you could see how well they were able to grasp what was being said, and what was portrayed on the stage.

There are many interesting ways to teach drama. A few examples include:

  • acting plays out
  • group read aloud where students wear or hold a prop to indicate which character they are reading
  • read aloud using stick puppets(pictures of characters on sticks)e3aeb71fc752d9aadd6de74416dcce4a
  • group students together and allow them to create their own take on the play and each group act it our for the class
  • take lines from Shakespeare and have students translate the lines in modern English, a rap, or a text message

Taking a difficult play and breaking it down is a great way to help students understand it more. Teachers can break students into groups, and have each group create a character “family tree” so they can see who each character is and who they are related to. Students can even include who the character’s friends are in the tree. This activity is called “Character Connections” in the American Shakespeare Center’s study guide (Morris, 2012).

88682a32fcf6e50657bd6c2880abb65b With Shakespeare, teachers can also teach iambic pentameter by lining students up in chairs and standing to show the stressed and unstressed parts.This activity is described in the American Shakespeare Center’s Study Guide as well.

Shakespeare can also be used to show the origin of many of the words we still use today. d20bcd743e1d01eede1431972ff31f38

The American Shakespeare Center’s study guide gives an abundance of activities teachers can use to teach Shakespeare in the classroom. This guide is extremely helpful in giving ideas that can even be adapted to teach other plays as well as Shakespeare’s plays.

Drama is such versatile teaching tool, and can be used in many ways in the classroom to teach a plethora of things. It is also a wonderful tool, because students enjoy it. Drama is a fun way to get students involved in their learning, and help them solidify it in their minds so they can remember what they’re learning much better.

 

All visuals from Pinterest.com

Morris, C. 2012. American Shakespeare Center Study Guide Romeo and Juliet.

One Response to “Classroom Drama”

  1. Brittany Pierce Says:

    Gabrielle,

    I really enjoyed how you discussed that Shakespeare teaches, “diversity, language varieties, writing styles, reading, oral abilities, and much more.” I thought that it was a great way to bring out how much a student will gain from reading drama. I also loved how you gave a list of ways to teach drama. I had never thought of the puppets on the Popsicle sticks! I really love that idea!!

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