Language Arts and Drama Integration

Language Arts and Drama Integration

To start off, I wouldn’t consider myself the most dance-inclined person out there – more-so in the opposite direction.  However I do love the arts!  In particular I love music, but I appreciate most what the arts can bring to the classroom.  The arts create an environment that is more colourful and gives students an avenue to express themselves without the fear of being judged.

From what was shown today, I can definitely see how well developed the arts curriculum is, especially from seeing the creative process.  The creative process is a cycle that allows for students to plan, present and gives ample time for reflection so students can improve on previous activities.  It is important that students practice this not only through drama, but in other subjects too. 

Curriculum Connections:

Grade 6 Language Arts

These are the curriculum expectations that were addressed in the activity today.  Information about the activity will be detailed below.

Reading 1.6: extend understanding of text /ideas by connecting, comparing and contrasting the ideas in them to their own knowledge, experience, and insights, to familiar texts and to the world around them. 

Drama:

B1.3 plan and shape the direction of the drama or role play by introducing new perspectives and ideas, both in and out of role.

Hot Seating

An activity we participated in today was called “Hot-Seating”.  This is a very fun and engaging way for students to become more involved and get out of their comfort zone.  It doesn’t concentrate so much on the physical activity, but encourages students to think quickly when asked a series of questions.  When we did this as a class, it was clear that everyone was enjoying it!

The activity follows the story of Jeffrey the Sloth.  After the story was read, we were asked how the different characters were feeling during different scenes.  After, we selected someone to represent Jeffrey and then we asked a series of questions, rather quickly, to see how fast they could respond.  The responses were definitely creative and from the laughs it created an open, relaxed and inclusive environment.

The Theory

The theory focus for this week’s drama class was Dwyer’s Learner’s Theory.  By looking at the picture above, it shows the percentages of how likely students will remember material through the different avenues for which they can.  Ultimately it shows students will remember the most from teaching others and by doing.  From this, then, we should encourage students to become more active and collaborate to try and achieve the highest level of memory retention.

I’m very much looking forward to the next several weeks of classes as I’m imaging this class is going to encourage us to get off our chairs and start participating.  If we advocate and encourage students to become involved, I suppose we should be doing so too!  Practice what you preach!