Sunday, June 21, 2015

Finding Short Plays For The Classroom

By Freida Michael


A play entertains and helps children to learn at the same time. This is why drama is often included in classroom activities. In the past most teachers had to come up with their own material and this could take up a lot of time and effort. Fortunately, there are many suitable short plays for the classroom available online today. You can simply select suitable scripts from the great variety available online. Accumulate several to include in your teaching plans and you will not be sorry.

If a teacher has a very specific type of play in mind, there are various ways an online search can be refined. The age of pupils, the type and style of play, number of parts are some of the selections offered. Some are more suitable for very young children and others for a teenage audience. The most popular scripts, particularly for younger children, are those that make them laugh.

Many of these scripts work well without a stage, props or special costumes. The children do not have to learn the lines but simply read them instead. They learn to add expression to what they are saying and perform hand gestures. At times, simple costumes and a few props may be included but this is not essential. There is nothing like learning history by performing the roles of historical characters and acting out what happened in the past.

Another way a play can be used is in helping to learn certain life skills. What is learned in a fantasy context can help with daily problems like bullying or lying. Universal themes like life and death, the natural and supernatural can also be introduced in this manner. This can help the pupils to understand complex emotions more easily and learn how to cope with every day life.

A play also offers a way to include pupils of all abilities. Those who are a bit shy may really benefit from taking part. It may just draw a pupil out of his or her shell and drastically improve his or her confidence levels. They forget all about their shyness, drawn along by the fun of the activity.

Group activities are an important part of learning. Drama encourages working together to achieve a certain result. Children learn how to encourage and support one another in their performances. They learn what it feels like to share together and respect one another to make the whole experience work well and achieve the right effect.

Children who do not learn how to express themselves clearly and confidently have a disadvantage in life. Encouraging them to read scripts can develop this skill. This gives them a strong foundation that will help them throughout their lives. It also encourages their creative expression and gives them an emotional outlet.

Some scripts have only a few roles and the rest of the pupils are required to sit and listen carefully. Others require participation of many and there are some where many of the children form a responsive chorus. Whatever the form of the play, the benefits are unquestionable. This is a wonderful way to learn, develop creative expression and be entertained at the same time.




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