Fifth graders have been working on establishing believable characters with strong physicalization and interviews in The Big Orange Splot as well as the fable of The Stone in the Road. Later we wrote our own Reader's Theatre scripts of the funny fables by John Sczieska in Squids will be Squids. Currently, fifth graders have been using more vocal expression in reading poetry. I am collaborating with the fifth grade classroom teachers during their poetry unit. Students have also been sharing observations and compliments with each other using discussion starters and drama vocabulary. In this way I am connecting with our schools' goals of working on Common Core State Standards of Speaking and Listening.
Second and third graders have been exploring how to connect emotions with movement to improve their acting. They have enjoyed making their pantomimes more specific with size, weight and shape of objects as well as encountering a problem they must solve during the scene. Favorite stories of the second graders were Anansi the Spider and the Moss Covered Rock along with Sweet Dream Pie. Third graders used their imaginations to create disguises for the worst witch in the world to buy magical purple powder for a secret potion. They also became King Midas with his golden touch.
First graders and kindergartners started off by exploring locomotor and nonlocomotor movement as animals. I also use a small amount of yoga to help these younger students focus their energies. Basic parts of a story are sequenced and small scenes are played from these parts. Both grades transformed from chrysalis to butterfly in the story of Charlie the Caterpillar. Other stories we all acted out were The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Caps for Sale. It's always a great idea to explore and read these stories with your child after Drama to see how they remember the story. Your library is an amazing resource - curl up with a good book this winter!