creativity

Why Drama Circles Work in the Elementary Classroom

November 21, 2025 By dhcbaldwin Leave a Comment

Why Drama Circles Work in the Elementary Classroom

“How Drama Circles work in the Elementary Classroom” is a topic that’s close to my heart—mostly because you are far “more fortunate than I ever was. When I began teaching, I had absolutely no resources for the theater classes I taught. I was constantly tweaking college-level acting lessons for my very young students. Not the best idea…

But lucky you! After thirty-eight years (and then some), I’ve perfected my lessons to help you. Drama teachers have known for decades that movement, imagination, and storytelling help students learn. But what if you could combine all of those elements into a simple, low-prep activity that works in any classroom? Plus, you were relegated to using a stage? There’s the secret sauce!

Enter: Drama Circles.

Drama Circles are quick, engaging activities which invite students to take turns acting out prompts, exploring characters, and stretching their creativity in a structured, supportive way. Best of all, drama circles require no costumes, no rehearsals, and no performance pressure. All you need is a printed set of cards (or a list of prompts) and a group of students ready to have fun.

What Is a Drama Circle?

To begin, a drama circle is a simple activity where students stand or sit in a circle, draw a prompt, and act it out for the group.

The prompts can focus on:

Movement–“You are a squirrel trying to teach a walnut too far out of your reach.”
Vocal expression–“You are a gruff, old bear looking for berries to eat before you hibernate.”
Characters–“You are a grandmother who has proudly made the Thanksgiving turkey for the family only to find its burned.”
Emotions--“You are a clown who doesn’t know how to juggle.”
Seasonal themes–” You are one of the elves and you accidentally wrapped yourself up in the package you were wrapping.”
“Curriculum concepts–“You and your friend show us a tableau of scene from Red Riding Hood.”

It’s worth noting, that the beauty of drama circles is that they allow every child to participate at their comfort level. In addition, they encourage bold choices and imagination.

Why Drama Circles Work So Well for Elementary Students

Drama circles align beautifully with what elementary learners need:

1. They support whole-body learning.

Young children make meaning through movement. To that end, drama circles channel wiggles productively while strengthening coordination, spatial awareness, and expressive movement. Check out this blog post for more information about movement: Creative Movement: Elementary and Middle School Teachers – Ready to Move?

2. They build confidence.

Drama circles even nurture shy children to take risks. Because students “perform” only for their classmates in a casual, low-stakes manner. One prompt at a time is far less intimidating than performing a whole scene.

3. They promote speaking and listening skills.

Every prompt becomes an opportunity for students to practice pacing, volume, and clarity. These are all important communication skills that support reading fluency. Check out this post for more information about reader theater: Unveiling Reader’s Theater: What You Never Knew

4. They encourage creative thinking.

A simple prompt like “Walk as if you’re on the moon” sparks imagination, problem-solving, and character interpretation. Pick up this drama circle is you really want to stretch your students’ imagination! Drama Circle Lost in Space: The Star Voyager Chronicle

5. They strengthen classroom community.

Laughter, shared creativity, and positive peer feedback help build trust among students. Drama circles make classrooms feel safe and joyful. Check out this article on how laughter leads students to learn.

How to Use Drama Circles in Your Elementary Classroom

Drama circles are incredibly versatile. Here are several ways teachers can integrate them seamlessly into the school day.

1. Use them as a warm-up activity.

Start your morning meeting or ELA block with a few prompts to energize your students. It sets a positive tone for the day.

2. Add them to transitions.

A two-minute elementary drama circle between subjects helps refocus brains after worksheets or independent work. This is such a great idea! Check out this FREE drama circle: Drama Circle Winter Holidays

3. Use them as brain breaks.

Instead of turning to YouTube videos, let your students act out “Ride a roller coaster!” or “Be a sleepy dragon waking up.”

4. Tie them into seasonal celebrations.

Holiday-themed drama circles (like Thanksgiving, Winter Holidays, or Valentine’s Day) make festive weeks more manageable while keeping students on-task. Here is one for Thanksgiving: Drama Circle Thanksgiving Theme

5. Use them in literacy instruction.

Warm ups for kids through drama circles help students explore:

Character traits–“Show us you are proud of yourself having run the race.”
Emotion vocabulary–“Show us you are laughing hysterically at your friend.”
Setting–“Show us you are sitting near a mountain creek with your feet dangling in the freezing cold water.”
Action verbs–“Show us you are carrying heavy groceries into your house.”
Dialogue delivery–“Show us by saying this sentence in an unusual manner–Close the door.” (I’ve used this one for years.)

They’re also a great way to introduce reader’s theater or creative writing.

6. Substitute Plans Made Easy

Left with a day’s notice? Drama circles in the elementary classroom require almost no explanation. Plus, they work perfectly as a structured, engaging sub activity. Because you can do so many activities with them, a substitute will feel at ease using them, especially if they are not a drama teacher.

Tips for Successful Drama Circles

Here are a few tricks I used for 38 years in the drama classroom—and they work beautifully in elementary settings:

✔ Keep prompts short and clear.

Elementary students respond best to simple phrases they can interpret creatively.

✔ Model the first prompt.

A quick demonstration helps them understand there are no “right answers.” This is essential in any situation!

✔ Encourage big choices.

Tell students, “Make it bigger than you think!” They’ll surprise you.

✔ Celebrate every attempt.

Applause, snaps, and positive comments build a feeling of success for all students. Here’s the importance of applause. Why Do We Clap at the Theater?

✔ Offer adaptation options.

Let anxious students perform with a partner, freeze-pose their prompt, or describe what they would do.

Drama Circles Fit Everywhere

Whether you teach in a traditional classroom, a drama room, or a homeschool environment, drama circles are a joyful way to build creativity, communication, and confidence. They’re easy to implement. Drama Circles require virtually no prep, and ignite the kind of imaginative play that elementary students love. Who doesn’t love that?

If you’re looking for ready-to-print drama circles—seasonal themes, holidays, character challenges, and more—I have a growing collection created specifically for the elementary classroom. First and foremost, they’re classroom-tested and developmentally appropriate. Plus, they are designed by a veteran drama teacher who believes learning should be joyful.

Why is a growing bundle a good deal? Because if you get in now, you will receive every new drama circle I add to it for FREE! (And as this bundle grows, the price will go up for new buyers.) You can check them out here: Drama Circle Growing Bundle

I hope you will take me up on using drama circles in the elementary classroom. Honestly, they will not disappoint you. You will be astounded at how quickly your students pick up the directions and engage!

Have you used drama circles in your elementary classroom? I’d love to hear how they have worked for you. Feel free to email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com

Deb

Photo Gallery of DramaMommaSpeaks — Directing

The Power of Play: Teaching Children Through Creative Dramatics

May 22, 2025 By dhcbaldwin Leave a Comment

The Power of Play: Teaching Children Through Creative Dramatics

When I was a young child, I spent many an hour playing in the forsythia bush on the side of our home. To me, it was the perfect place to hide away–just close enough so my mother could see me from the kitchen window and just far enough away that I could pretend anything my heart desired. Today, let’s talk about The Power of Play: Teaching Children Through Creative Dramatics.

Picture this: a group of five-year-old’s flapping their arms like birds, pretending to soar through a jungle canopy. To an outsider, it might look like simple and unimportant play—but to a drama educator, it’s the beginning of something profound. Creative dramatics, or informal, process-centered dramatic play, is a powerful tool in the early childhood classroom. It supports developmental milestones in ways that worksheets and structured lessons simply can’t.

So why should we encourage young learners to step into someone else’s shoes—literally and figuratively? Here’s why creative dramatics deserves a starring role in every early childhood curriculum. Looking for superhero creative dramatics lessons? Go to: Super Hero Lesson Bundle

The Power of Play: Teaching Children Through Creative Dramatics

1. Builds Language and Communication Skills

When children act out stories, they’re not just having fun—they’re expanding their vocabulary, practicing sentence structure, and learning how to listen and respond. Additionally, if they are like me they pick up accents they hear in movies and television and use them without being aware. Or they imitate a person’s vocal inflection (remember “E Gods!” in The Music Man?) Whether it’s a spontaneous pirate adventure or a dramatized retelling of The Three Little Pigs, drama provides a low-pressure environment to explore language.

Bonus: Shy children often feel more comfortable speaking through a character, which helps build confidence.

2. Encourages Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Perhaps the most important aspect of creative dramatics is that it invites children to be someone else—an important exercise in empathy. What does it feel like to be the Big Bad Wolf? Or the lost kitten? Children begin to understand and name emotions. Thereby recognizing how others might feel in different situations. This is a gigantic skill! Plus, they can learn the early foundations of kindness and perspective-taking. Read my blog post for my reasons to direct The Diary of Anne Frank: The Most Important Play I’ve Directed

Teamwork in Action: Building Social Skills Through Shared Stories

3. Supports Social Development and Collaboration

Drama is almost never a solo activity. In fact, when young children create scenes together, they learn to naturally take turns, listen actively, negotiate roles, and solve conflicts. Who wouldn’t agree that learning to solve conflicts is a vital skill we all need to work on? It’s teamwork in its most joyful form. And for students still developing their interpersonal skills, creative dramatics offers a safe, playful setting to practice.

Although I enjoy directing production because I get the chance to see my vision come to fruition. I’m also aware that I couldn’t have had a successful production without the cast, crew and creative staff. To learn more about my directing experiences, check out: The Reasons I Love the Giver

4. Stimulates Imagination and Critical Thinking

Pretend play is the root of innovation. Through dramatics, children learn to invent, problem-solve, and think outside the box. A single scarf becomes a crown, a blanket turns into a mountain, and suddenly—there’s a kingdom to save! This kind of flexible thinking fuels creativity across subjects, from storytelling to science. Personally, I find that pretending is very relaxing. Download this wonderful exercise if you are in need of something to boost your students creativity: Wax Museum

5. Promotes Physical Coordination and Motor Skills

Young children need to move—and drama gives them a purpose to do so. Acting out actions like climbing, sneaking, galloping, or twirling engages the imagination. Do you teach about verbs? Use creative movement to teach it! Consequently, it also strengthens gross motor skills and body awareness. Add in props and costume pieces, and you’ve also got fine motor practice at your fingertips. Need a lesson to teach creative movement? Check out: Drama Lesson Creative Movement

6. Fosters a Love of Stories and Literacy

Many drama lessons stem from beloved books and folktales. Children who act out a story become more engaged readers and listeners. When they act out a story, they begin to understand narrative structure, identify characters and settings, and retell events in sequence. It’s one of the most powerful ways to nurture pre-literacy skills. Here’s a FREE Japanese folk tale which is all told through movement and narration: Ojisan and the Grateful Statues

Needing a book of ideas? Pick up Viola Spolin’s book, Theater Games for the Classroom. It’s chock full of exercises with side coaching advice and clear procedures.

My Final Thoughts

As I mentioned, I have fond memories of playing under the forsythia bushes in our backyard when I was a child. Between them and the upstairs porch in our home, I had plenty of time to hone my imagination. It is one of my abilities of which I am most proud. Check out my directing resume and see what I mean–About Me

Creative dramatics may look like play—and that’s exactly the point. It’s learning through joy, movement, voice, and imagination. As educators and parents, we owe it to our youngest learners to offer them opportunities to express themselves freely and learn through doing. Trust me, if you introduce them to pretend play they will join you with open arms.

Whether it’s a simple “pretend we’re animals” warm-up or a more structured story reenactment, every moment of creative drama helps a child grow. So grab a scarf, a hat, or just an idea, and let the story begin!

Needing a book of ideas? Pick up Viola Spolin’s book, Theater Games for the Classroom. It’s chock full of exercises with side coaching advice and clear procedures.

What book are you go-tos? I’d love to hear about them. Email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com.

Unlocking Creativity: Teaching Storytelling in the Classroom

January 3, 2024 By dhcbaldwin Leave a Comment

“Unlocking Creativity: Teaching Storytelling in the Classroom” is not just a title, it’s an invitation to explore strategies that make teaching this timeless skill an enriching and transformative experience for both educators and students alike. Let’s dive into the art of storytelling and discover how it opens doors to boundless creativity within the classroom.

Did you know I have the secret to boosting student engagement? My new book, “We’re Live! Radio Theater #101” explains my journey to implementing this unique tool in the classroom. Check it out here

Understanding the Basics of Storytelling:

In my experience, I’ve found that students enjoy storytelling. In a theater class, it is much lesson threatening than performing a monologue. Consequently, I always include a storytelling unit in my yearly lesson plans. When you begin teaching storytelling to your students, first introduce the fundamental elements of a story. Although your students may be aware of these elements, sometimes a quick review of the key components is necessary. Reiterate stories which have characters, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution. Use examples from literature, movies, or real-life situations to illustrate these concepts. This makes the learning more relatable to your students. Or use storytelling as a warm up exercise for several days. Check out: Storytelling Postcard Stories in my TPT store, or my Payhip store.

Immersive Storytelling Activities for Early Finishers:

Engage your students in interactive activities that immerse them in the world of storytelling. One idea is to create a storytelling corner in your classroom. Your early finishers will appreciate this. Encourage them to collaborate on developing and sharing their stories. Again, a reminder of a story’s components could be useful, especially if students are working independently. Generally, students need your help in the fleshing out of the story–that is describing settings, characters, and emotions.

Essentially, you each them the five C’s, Circumstance, Curiosity, Characters, Conversations, and Conflicts that captivate audiences’ interest. The circumstance is all about establishing the scene. A storyteller must provide essential information to their audience including — when, where, and why.

In addition, after a teacher finishes teaching storytelling the culminating activity could be a storytelling day. If you’d like a one week lesson which teaches storytelling, check out this one at ( Teacherspayteachers.com ) or at my Payhip store).

Utilize Technology:

Embrace technology as a tool to enhance storytelling experiences. Platforms like digital storytelling apps, interactive whiteboards, or podcast creation tools can make the process more dynamic. Students can explore multimedia elements to enhance their narratives, including images, music, and sound effects. There are a plethora’s worth of apps. for storytelling whether your students are in lower elementary or high school. If you are looking for a site where your students can generate stories on line, check out Boomwriter, Nawal, Storybird.

Encourage Freewriting Sessions:

Foster a love for writing by incorporating freewriting sessions into your lessons. Set aside dedicated time for students to let their imaginations run wild without worrying about grammar or structure. This practice helps them discover their unique voice and allows creativity to flow freely. The Writing Process, expresses it, “ increases the flow of ideas and reduces the chance that you’ll accidentally censor a good idea. Additionally, it helps to increase fluency second-language learners—i.e., the ability to produce written language easily as opposed to accuracy.”

Showcase Diverse Stories:

Introduce a variety of stories from different cultures, genres, and perspectives. Exposing students to diverse narratives only helps to broaden their understanding of the world. Additionally, it inspires them to explore various storytelling styles. Teachers can encourage discussions about the cultural and emotional aspects of these stories. Plus, it is such fun! If you are ready to embark on reader’s theater or play production as vehicles for storytelling, check out my blog post, The Reasons Teaching Multiculturalism in the Classroom is Vitally Important

Have you introduced your students to Kamishibai storytelling? Check it out here

Incorporate Storytelling in Different Subjects

I strongly urge you to integrate storytelling into various subjects, not just drama class or language arts. Whether it’s creating historical narratives, science fiction stories, or math-related scenarios, connecting storytelling to different subjects makes learning more holistic and enjoyable. One of our biggest challenges in this great big world is understanding one another, especially our cultures. If you’d like to learn more about integrating drama into core classes, check out: How to Excite Students With Drama Integration

Peer Feedback and Collaboration:

I find it you foster a collaborative environment where students can share their stories with peers, reluctant students are less disinterested in your class. Implement peer feedback sessions, emphasizing constructive criticism and positive reinforcement. This not only improves storytelling skills but also enhances communication and teamwork. Here’s a way to incorporate Kamishibai storytelling in the elementary classroom: Storytelling| Student Created Pictures Unit for Upper Elementary.

Celebrate Student Achievements:

Another way to create opportunities for students is to showcase their storytelling prowess. Whether through class presentations, storytelling festivals, or publishing a class anthology, celebrating their achievements builds confidence and reinforces the value of storytelling. Pick up a FREE speech rubric here: Free Speech Communications Editable Persuasive Speech Rubric.

Guest Speakers and Storytelling Experts:

Invite storytellers, authors, or professionals to share their experiences with your students. Guest speakers can provide valuable insights, tips, and inspiration. Plus they can reinforce the idea that storytelling is a skill with real-world applications. If you pick up a copy of this storytelling unit, I included links to professional storytellers’ performances.

Assessment through Reflection:

Choosing what a teacher wants to focus on in storytelling is important. My advice is to focus on creativity, clarity, and emotional impact. Encourage your students to reflect on their own storytelling journey, identifying areas of growth and setting goals for improvement. This reflective process reinforces the learning experience and encourages a growth mindset.

In conclusion, teaching storytelling in the classroom is more than imparting a set of skills. It’s about nurturing creativity, empathy, and effective communication. By implementing these strategies, we empower our students to become confident storytellers. It equips with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of the world with imagination and resilience. I encourage you to embrace the power of storytelling, and watch your students’ narratives unfold into vibrant tapestries of expression and understanding.

Recently, my daughter asked me to record the story of the time I saw my father’s ghost walking in a hospital’s hallways. I was flattered that she remembered the story and wanted to share it with others. Do you think people would like to hear this story? It’s a true story.

How have you used storytelling in your classroom? I’d love to hear about it. You can contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com.

Your Secret Teaching Allies-Super Heroes

January 14, 2019 By dhcbaldwin 6 Comments

Let’s talk about your secret teaching allies–super heroes. If you are a teacher, you may be using them in your lessons all ready.

If not, I’m going to give you some good reasons to implement them!

The obvious reason to use super heroes in our teaching is that our students relate to them, especially elementary and middle school kids.

I used super heroes as a focus in my drama lessons for many years. I don’t know if I did it out of desperation or imagination. However, once I perfected how to use them, I never stopped.

You understand I taught for nearly forty years, right?

Here’s some history about super heroes you may not know:

“During the late 1930’s to 1950’s, the Golden Age of Comic Books were created. Modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity among the masses. The superhero archetype was created and many well-known characters were introduced, including Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, Captain America, and Wonder Woman. Most superheroes served as a figure who inspired hope.

This hero could save us all from dark and difficult times. Superhero stories promote the ideas of peace, safety and freedom. Some experts consider this message a necessary reassurance in difficult times. The message isn’t about a country succeeding, but recognition that there are others with similar hope for a peaceful future.”

Awesome!

Your Secret Teaching Allies–Super Heroes

Can a teacher teach creativity with creativity? Yes, of course.

While perusing the web looking for research defending this topic, I found this on creativityatwork.com:

“Creativity is a skill that can be developed and a process that can be managed. Creativity begins with a foundation of knowledge, learning a discipline, and mastering a way of thinking. We learn to be creative by experimenting, exploring, questioning assumptions, using imagination and synthesizing information.

Creativity is a Skill

I agree with Maya Angela, do you?

Generative research shows that everyone has creative abilities. The more training you have and the more diverse the training, the greater the potential for creative output. Research has shown that in creativity quantity equals quality. The longer the list of ideas, the higher the quality of the final solution. Quite often, the highest quality ideas appear at the end of the list.

Behavior is generative; like the surface of a fast flowing river, it is inherently and continuously novel… behavior flows and it never stops changing. Novel behavior is generated continuously, but it is labeled creative only when it has some special value to the community.”

As a drama teacher, I looked for novel ways to reach students which weren’t as obvious as handing them notes, looking at theater stuff (costumes, props, etc.) and having the students understand theater from only one perspective.

These teaching methods are not poor, but ordinary and quite frankly, tired. Over time, students can feel it or rather, they experience it in many classes and subjects and it becomes dull.

Because of this worry, I never wanted my class to be dull. Theater is NEVER dull and I think it’s my job to make sure my students know this. Theater is AWESOME.

Questions to Ask Myself

I had a few questions to ask myself–

Why can’t we study costume design through super hero costumes?
Why can’t we study tableau and movement through super hero in particular predicaments which lend themselves to demonstration through movement?
Why can’t we storytelling through stories created with postcards?

Well, we can. Infact, students appreciate the novelty of it!

Students and The Creative Process

According to ISTE.org, “The creative process involves a lot of trial and error. Productive struggle — a gentler term for failure — builds resilience, teaching students to push through difficulty to reach success. That’s fertile soil for emotional growth.

“Allowing students to experience the journey, regardless of the end result, is important,” says Terral, a presenter at ISTE Creative Constructor Lab.

Creativity gives students the freedom to explore and learn new things from each other, Imbriale adds. As they overcome challenges and bring their creative ideas to fruition, “students begin to see that they have limitless boundaries,” he says. “That, in turn, creates confidence. It helps with self-esteem and emotional development.”

Your Secret Teaching Allies–Super Heroes

Recently, I’ve mentioned my Teacherspayteachers store should be renamed to Creativity4U. It is my creative approach to teaching which sets me apart from others.

I have several lessons using super heroes as the focus. In the near future, I’ll be adding a few more to the bundle, so stay tuned.

I’d love for you to check them out: Dramamommaspeaks Store

One is Storytelling Using Super Heroes Postcard Stories

Another is Costume Design with Super Heroes

And Studying Tableau and Movement with Super Heroes

And one more: Super Hero Bundle

Usually, this lesson is done without a rubric. But here is one which could help you if you need it: Storytelling Rubric

Remember: You can teach students in a myriad of ways. Never think there is only one way to reach them or you must use the trendiest method. Check out this blog post if you are looking for something about set design: Critical Steps in Producing a Play or Musical: Set Design

YOU make the next trend!

Are you all ready teaching with super heroes? I’d love to know about your experiences.

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Stage Properties are a Lesson in Wondrous Creativity

July 30, 2018 By dhcbaldwin 1 Comment

Stage Properties are a Lesson in Wondrous Creativity

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Today, I’m going to talk about Stage Properties are a Lesson in Wondrous Creativity–one of my favorite subjects! When I was studying theatre in college, the first back stage crew I signed up for was stage properties.

Boy, I had a lot of learning to do!

The show was “Look Homeward Angel” which is a period piece set in the early 1900’s. My job was to serve as an assistant of sorts to the cast. I would hand them props or take them from them if they were in a hurry. I prepared the set each night before the production, put the props away after the performance and kept them in good repair.

I hadn’t really given props much thought although I had been in charge of them in high school as well for “The Miracle Worker”. That was high school, you know? Plus, I lived in a small town in Kansas. Consequently, we didn’t have the money or energy to do more than the basics.

But college was a whole different experience.

My students are always advised by me that if they want to go into theatre as a profession, stick to technical theatre because you’ll be hired more often than an actor. Good properties people are hard to find.

They are resourceful, creative and inventive. The American Theatre Wing has some super videos to inform us about thetre careers. Check this out: American Theatre Wing’s Stage Properties

Cool, huh?

Stage Properties a Lesson Wondrous Creativity

Here is a post I blogged specifically about the importance of props in your production: Critical Steps in Choosing a Play or Musical: Stage Prop

When I graduated from college, I spent a summer as a stage properties mistress at the Okoboji Summer Theatre. It was an incredibly difficult experience–ten shows in nine weeks. I can handle a lot, but this job nearly broke me.

In case you didn’t understand that, I said 10 SHOWS (different) in 9 WEEKS!!!

Yowzer!

Most productions have many props they need.

Musicals and comedies have the largest number.

Usually comedies need strange things:

a Mickey Mouse hat to hold crackers on a “cheese ball”
two live afghan dogs, hopefully identical
a grand piano which is playable
matching living room furniture in beige
a large embroidered sampler held on a standing frame
a painting with a church steeple which looked rather phallic
a live cat
liver and onions (which the cast can eat on stage–we used dark rye bread for that one)
fruit pies impersonating the meat pies for “Sweeney Todd”
8 breakable white water pitcher which could hold water for five minutes and then break on cue
bird puppets
steamer trunks
child’s rocking chair
1940 roller skates

Plus, there are all the things which are made from scratch such as swords, daggers, child’s coffin, and a grave marker to name a few. Those props take extra time to design and build. Here’s a cool video about making a stage prop. cake.

See? These are pretty fun and students studying theater need to know about the subject.

Stage properties are a lesson in wondrous creativity

You can find it at: Stage Properties Using Cooperative Learning

Those of us in drama education have a tendency to gloss over stage properties when we teach about them. I inform students if they like to make crafts, enjoy theatre and art they are going to love stage properties.

This one-day lesson about stage properties (with fairy tales as the focus) is suitable for upper elementary and middle school students. It is engaging, fun and unique.

Students learn about stage properties, view video examples, take notes, team up with a classmate and use their imaginations!

Product includes:
Procedure
Teacher’s Questions
Stage properties categories and the reasons they aren’t labeled as such
Short quiz
Cooperative learning assignment

So look into my Stage Properties product, will you? I think it will help you and your students.

Stage Properties are a Lesson in Wondrous Creativity

Usually, my high school stage properties unit takes about a week to complete. I have a Google classroom version and standard version of the unit.

What are some stage properties you have created?

You know, I’d love to learn about them.

Looking for other drama education products? Check out my store at: Teacher Pay Teachers Dramamommaspeaks Store

There you’ll find units on storytelling, tableau, radio theater costume design, Shakespeare and new products each week!

Reviews of other Dramamommaspeaks products:

“This is a great very well written resource and very good for text comprehension! Thank you!”

“This is such a wonderful and creatively made resource!”

“Love this activity! What a great way for students to work together!”

If you want more information about critical steps in stage properties, check out: Critical Steps in Choosing a Play or Musical: Stage Properties

Who On Earth Created the First Fringe Festival?

July 24, 2018 By dhcbaldwin Leave a Comment

Who on earth created the first fringe festival?

It’s an interesting question.

Last year my husband and I took the trip of a lifetime to Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. One of our last stops was Edinburg, Scotland.

Here is a photo of the Edinburg castle.

(While we toured the castle, I had an encounter with a ghost in one of the jails cells, but that’s a post for another day….)

The popular Edinburg Fringe Festival was running, but unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to attend. I would have liked that. Had I know then what I know now about fringe festivals, I would have made it a point to attend some part of it.

So, I promised I would speak about the history of the Edinburg Fringe Festival.

The History of Edinburg Fringe Festival

“In 1947, eight theatre companies showed up at the Edinburgh International Festival, hoping to gain recognition from the mass gathering at the festival. In 1948, Robert Kemp, a Scottish journalist and playwright, described the situation, “Round the fringe of official Festival drama, there seems to be more private enterprise than before … I am afraid some of us are not going to be at home during the evenings!”.^[2] Edinburgh Festival Fringe was founded in 1947.”

According to the United States of Fringe Festivals:

“Focused on the performing arts: At its core, Fringe gives a spotlight to theater, dance, puppetry, music, visual arts, and spoken word. Fringes don’t have a focus on one single discipline or genre, but are a performing-arts smörgåsbord
Uncensored: From family friendly to bawdy and burlesque, Fringes do not curate or constrain the material or content used in participating show.
Easy to participate in: Ticket prices are purposely low for audiences and production fees are low for artists. We strive to make the arts available to everyone. Show selection varies from festival to festival but is generally quite open to participation by the gamut of amateurs to professionals
Festivals: Fringes around the world vary. They last from just a few days to a few weeks and involve lots of people at multiple venues.
Original: Fringes feature a wide array of original material—sometimes by design, but usually because that’s what Fringes do naturally well.
Rapid-fire: Typically, tech is minimal and time is a factor at our festivals. Shows are often kept brief (Fringes most frequently have shows right around 60 minutes in length) and technical requirements kept simple (minor sets, streamlined cues, nothing elaborate)

In the U.S., no one organization or individual owns, controls or regulates the name “Fringe”. There are no national rules for how each individual festivals operate; festival content, finances, and structure vary from city to city. Generally, all festivals are committed to an open forum of expression that minimizes the financial risks for both artists and audiences. Fringes work hard to keep production fees and ticket prices low so that more people can participate in our festivals.”

Doesn’t that sound like fun? People doing theatre just because they want to. People being creative and imaginative with other people doing the same thing.

I think you’d like to attend one. I have several former students who participate in them each year and they enjoy the freedom of creativity they feel.

Here is a life of a few places in the United States where fringe festival occur:

Arizona

Tucson Fringe Festival

California

Florida

Georgia

Atlanta Fringe Festival

Hawaii

O’ahu Fringe Festival

Illinois

Indiana

IndyFringe

Maine

PortFringe

Maryland

Charm City Fringe

Minnesota

Minnesota Fringe Festival

Missouri

Montana

Zootown Fringe Festival

North Carolina

Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

New York

Ohio

Cincinnati Fringe Festival

Pennsylvania

Scranton Fringe Festival

Rhode Island

Providence Fringe Festival

Tennessee

Sideshow Fringe Festival

Check them out. Maybe I can catch the one in Kansas City. I’m so excited!

Have you attended a fringe festival performance? I’d love to hear from you about your perspective?

You can contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

creativity

Why Drama Circles Work in the Elementary Classroom

What Is a Drama Circle?

Why Drama Circles Work So Well for Elementary Students

5. They strengthen classroom community.

How to Use Drama Circles in Your Elementary Classroom

5. Use them in literacy instruction.

Tips for Successful Drama Circles

Drama Circles Fit Everywhere

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The Power of Play: Teaching Children Through Creative Dramatics

The Power of Play: Teaching Children Through Creative Dramatics

1. Builds Language and Communication Skills

2. Encourages Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Teamwork in Action: Building Social Skills Through Shared Stories

3. Supports Social Development and Collaboration

4. Stimulates Imagination and Critical Thinking

5. Promotes Physical Coordination and Motor Skills

6. Fosters a Love of Stories and Literacy

My Final Thoughts

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Understanding the Basics of Storytelling:

Immersive Storytelling Activities for Early Finishers:

Utilize Technology:

Encourage Freewriting Sessions:

Showcase Diverse Stories:

Incorporate Storytelling in Different Subjects

Peer Feedback and Collaboration:

Celebrate Student Achievements:

Guest Speakers and Storytelling Experts:

Assessment through Reflection:

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Your Secret Teaching Allies–Super Heroes

Creativity is a Skill

Questions to Ask Myself

Students and The Creative Process

Your Secret Teaching Allies–Super Heroes

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Stage Properties are a Lesson in Wondrous Creativity

Stage Properties a Lesson Wondrous Creativity

Stage properties are a lesson in wondrous creativity

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