Friday, April 10, 2015

Executing Inspirational Lessons Through Short Plays For The Classroom

By Joanna Walsh


One common desire among educators around the world is the desire for students to have fun while learning. This is why teachers are always interested in creative ways to make the learning environment more learner friendly. Short plays for the classroom allow educators to do just that. With these literary works, teachers can change lives positively by making the learning process an engaging and exciting one.

Engaging the students is a key role of any teacher. Short drama works are ideal for this. The students may be placed in groups and allowed to prepare and make presentations of the drama piece. This keeps students engaged as they work enthusiastically on their presentations, using an estimated fifteen to twenty minutes to plan for a typical five minute performance. When the time for presentation arrives the class is one more engaged as students get to play the role of audience and performers alternately.

The presentation can be turned into something bigger such as a whole school play. In fact, many large school plays had their genesis in classroom productions. Dramatic displays that are done at this level are quite achievement for younger students and older ones alike. Remarkable growth in self esteem is reported by teachers of students who engage in these activities.

Participation in these plays is one way of preparing the youth for the roles they will have to play in society as adults. The fact that they have to work with others during the planning and presentation stages helps them to practice interpersonal communication. This type of communication is key to developing positive social and business relationships. Leadership skills are developed as well since students who are natural leaders can take on the role of directors or producers.

The content of the drama pieces is also a great resource for teaching. Teachers may select pieces that highlight the behavioral principles that they wish to teach. These included issues such as love, loyalty and fairness. Teachers can also highlight the negative character traits that are displayed in the script and explore the consequences faced by characters who display these traits.

Drama scripts are also useful for fulfilling the requirements of the academic curriculum. Literary and language skills are also developed through drama. Students who are good at practical skills such as decorating and lighting get to develop showcase their skills as well. Those students who are interested in making things can be tasked with the set building project.

For most teachers, finding the right play to use is easy. This is because there are many teacher centered websites that offer short dramatic works that are designed for classroom use. Crafting an original play for a specific class is not unusual however and many teachers do exactly that. Sometimes the class can create its own play as a part of a special project.

Inspiring teachers fill their students with an enthusiasm for learning. In the long term this converts into a desire to excel and to change the world for better. The power of drama in the hands of the right teacher cannot be underestimated as it plants the seeds of knowledge, growth and ambition that later bear fruits such as innovation, progress and security.




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