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Practical Plays
Introducing drama in the classroom is a great way to get your students involved in their own learning while having fun too. Differentiated learning can often times create teaching challenges and cause conflicts in the classroom. "Practical Plays" uses creative drama to teach concepts to a variety of learners such as visual, aural and kinesthetic.
Content Description
This book contains six plays to be performed by children in grades one through five. The subjects covered are: Halloween, Thanksgiving, the Winter Holiday, Valentine's Day, Brotherhood/Community, the Environment (Earth Day). These plays can be performed by an individual class or by a larger multi-age group as well. They are so simple that no prior theatrical experience is necessary and only the bare minimum personnel and supplies are required.
Purpose
The book will help many students to establish and build upon:
- public speaking skills
- self-esteem
- memorization skills
- cooperation among peers
- reading and oral language skills
Students as the performers and students as the audience both learn from play performance and production. The performers must learn responsibility, vulnerability and teamwork while the audience learns how to be good listeners and how to use manners as well.
This book offers teachers a way to enhance the curriculum by making history and culture "come to life" for the students. Creative drama and characterization can demonstrate feelings and attitudes that children cannot always visualize from reading a book or listening to a story. Plays make it that more"real" for them.
Features
"Practical Plays" offers many features that will make integrating drama in the classroom seem like a piece of cake. Here are a few:
Table of Contents:This book contains an organized table of contents that is divided into sections by play title.
Introduction: The introduction in this book discusses the significance of dramatic play and theater in the classroom and its benefits. It also addresses teachers' concerns about play production, costume and scenery design, rehearsal schedules, how to setup a rehearsal for the students, and it even provides teachers with some costume and rehearsal tips and suggestions.
Chapters: Each chapter or section, begins with a new play.Each of these sections includes: an explanation of why children should perform that particular play and how they will benefit from it; how to prepare the children for performing the play (performing activities, writing activities, and cross-curricular activities); how to stage the play (scenery, costumes, props, etc.); the script itself; and suggested readings or songs that could be used in addition to the play or as supplemental material.
Pros and Cons:
What I love about this book of plays the most, is that everything has an explanation. It is very thorough, so if you do not have much experience in theatrical performances, you do not have to worry. All of your questions will be answered. I like how each play allows for flexibility and adaptation for various age levels and learners. The kids really enjoy performing these short plays for there are easy lines and the stories are fun.
The only negative aspect of this book, is that I wish there were more plays to choose from.
Price:
This book can be purchased very cheap now for it is a little older. I have seen it anywhere from $0.99-$2.00. If you are on a budget, this one's for you!
Where Can I Purchase It?
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Overall Rating
Overall, this is a great Music/Drama resource for any elementary classroom teacher that is looking for a way to extend their curriculum while introducing their students to new, self-advancing skills that will ultimately prepare them for their lives ahead. I feel that the greatest enjoyment in teaching anything, is the sense of accomplishment from your students. They develop a sense of pride that no one can take away and that alone makes this book so worth it!
Music Teacher Resources in Review
- Where is Thumbkin? A Review of Songs and Fingerplays for the Elementary Classroom
- Sing a Song All Day Long! - A Great Resource for Songs and Music Activities
- Classical Music for Children: Teach About the Composers Through Classical Music Activities
- A Review of "Practical Plays": Full of Holiday Skits and Short School Plays
