Involvement Theater
Staff Development
Integrating Creative Drama || Theater Games Workshop for grades 6-12
Using Creative Drama to
Integrate the Arts into the General Curriculum
This workshop explores the use of
creative drama in getting staff to integrate the performing arts into the
general curriculum. The workshop will
include a description, demonstration, application and evaluation of the
creative drama process as it relates to school curricula and staff related
issues.
List of Possible Issues:
- See Lists For Elementary and Middle/H.S.
- Maryland State Department of Education’s outcomes to music and drama education. See the essential learner outcomes for the fine arts at appropriate level: elementary, middle or high school)
Workshop Goals:
- To demonstrate the use of theater games in the classroom
- To demonstrate how creative drama is used to teach arts education and how the arts may be integrated into the general classroom curriculum
Workshop Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
- use at least one creative drama method in their classroom
- describe the connection between creative drama and the Maryland learner outcomes for the fine arts
- use the process to help students apply knowledge more effectively
General Guidelines for Teachers:
- Creative drama may be used to fulfil any lesson plan objective in any subject area. It cannot replace a teacher's mastery of the lesson content and goals for the information.
- The teacher does not need any prior theater or drama experience to use the material presented in this workshop.
Teaching Problem-Solving skills through Creative Drama and Theater Games: Grades 6-12
OBJECTIVES
1. Participants will demonstrate the use of the problem-solving steps that will help resolve personal and social dilemmas they experience
2. Participants will solve a character problem through improvisational drama
3. Participants will use theater games as the tools for developing drama scenes
4. Participants will develop and perform creative drama scenes that reinforce problem-solving strategies
5. Participants will learn the basic skills for creative drama activities
6. Staff will be able to use the handbook for follow-up activities and reinforcement of the problem-solving and creative drama strategies
CREATIVE DRAMA WARM-UP ACTIVITIES
Focus: Point of concentration
A. Group cooperation and sense of belonging
B. Listening and following directions
C. Respect of personal space and rights
D. Brainstorming ideas, interpretation, expression & imagination
E. Mutual support to each group member
F. Lack of cooperation results in removal from the group
Review Ground Rules:
A. Respect space, hands to oneself
B. Listen to directions and to other participants, concentration
C. Memorize the problem-solving steps and values concerns
D. Use your imagination and be creative thinkers
E. Cooperate with your group or partner
THEATER GAMES
1. Give name, with made up identity name, with body movement; have everyone repeat action; continue around circle
2. Dance to music; wear special hat; copy leader
3. Moving on circle, copying motion in front of you, follow the leader, speed up, slow down, high, low, keep simple
4. Circle drill: clapping, electricity, two at one time
5. Red Light, Green Light: freeze, concentration: Make up leader and follower roles (e.g.: bully, picked on; lifeguard, swimmers)
6. I Am A Magician: leader gives others an animal, color and feeling
7. Adding An Activity: make a scene using activity focus
8. Face Dancing: to music move face, change focus on feelings
9. Facial movements: explode, implode
10. Shake-down, Relax, Point of Concentration
11. Moving around room through different environments (beach, city street) and changing physical characteristics (tall, small)
12. Stationary sculptures: focus on feeling and concentration
13. Gibberish: expression
14. Mirroring: controlled motion
15. Changing three things: observation
16. Group Singing: Blues Line "If I Tell You My Problem..."
17. Building Machines; breakdown; repairman (smaller groups)
18. Conducting: use sounds to imitate movement of conductor; choose coordinated sounds
19. Conversations: choose theme, partners talk and listen; share
20. Family Meeting: Discussing upcoming event (birthday, picnic)
21. Statues: select emotions, become characters
II. CONFLICT RESOLUTION
1. Respect similarities and differences
2. Understanding and controlling feelings
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rubinstein, Alan; Miller, Karen. The problem-solving project handbook, 1992. Involvement Theater, Inc.
Spolin, Viola. Theater games for the classroom. NW University Press, 1986.
Compiled by Alan Rubinstein, Director; Involvement Theater, Inc.