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Superhero Drama: Captivating Classroom Techniques

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 Superhero Drama: Captivating Classroom Techniques

If you are a new drama teacher for middle school, you may find that although the students are excited they have no idea what to expect.  Additionally,  they may be reluctant to participate or even disinterested (how could anyone be disinterested in theater?) because your class could be a pre-elective and everyone takes it.  Or maybe the school counselor plopped them in your class so they get their arts credit completed. I can help you! This post concerns superhero drama: captivating classroom techniques.

This happened to me. Many years ago, when I discovered I had students that fit this aforementioned description, I completely reorganized my lesson plans.  Instead of the traditional lesson you might teach beginners (intro. to theater, breathing exercises, monologues and duets) I  taught with non-threatening and more group exercises. One thing that always worked with them was superheroes.

Superhero Drama: Captivating Classroom Techniques

Superhero Drama: Captivating Classroom Techniques

Superheroes have always fascinated audiences, capturing the imagination of both young and old. Their tales of courage, conflict, and victory make them perfect tools for engaging students in the drama classroom. Simply put, super heroes are a safe subject with them. Using superhero themes can spark students’ creativity.  In addition it can make learning more relatable, and deepen their understanding of dramatic arts. Here’s how you can leverage superheroes to create an engaging drama classroom experience.

The Magnetic Appeal of Superheroes

Superheroes embody themes like good versus evil, identity, and transformation and everyone understands those themes.  Additionally, they  are rich in dramatic potential. By incorporating these familiar and exciting characters into drama lessons, you can immediately capture students’ attention and make learning more engaging.

Superhero Drama: Captivating Classroom Techniques

Super Hero Lesson Number One

Start by analyzing popular superheroes. Discuss their backstories, motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. This familiar territory makes character analysis more accessible and exciting for students.  Plus, it  helps them understand the nuances of character development.

The first lesson I teach them is Storytelling with Postcards Super Hero Themed. Students are placed in small groups.  Their challenge is to select five postcard cards at random from a box or hat.  The group creates a story about a super hero integrating the postcards images, words, or themes into the story.  But, the story must be about you as the super hero. Talk about fun! Students enjoy telling the story together–see?  No performing alone.  For more information, check out the lesson here.

Lesson Plan Number Two: Costume Design and Stagecraft

Superhero Drama: Captivating Classroom Techniques

Designing sets and costumes for superhero-themed performances can enhance the visual appeal of drama and teach students about stagecraft. This hands-on approach can make the learning experience more engaging and memorable. Encouraging students to create their own superheroes taps into their creativity.  It allows them to apply their understanding of character development in a very relaxed manner.  This activity not only engages students but also helps them develop their storytelling abilities. Plus, students can study costume design at the same time. Check out this resource here.

Superhero Drama: Captivating Classroom Techniques

Lesson Number Three:  Playwriting and the Monologue

Superhero stories are rich with conflict and moral dilemmas, perfect for exploring plot development and thematic elements in drama. Discussing these common superhero conflicts can make complex dramatic concepts more accessible and engaging. Another lesson which they enjoy is writing a monologue as themselves as the super hero. You might think this would be too difficult for your students, but if you give them a framework they will be successful.  Check out this resource here.

Superhero Drama: Captivating Classroom Techniques

 Lesson Number Four: Encouraging Movement and Tableaux

Superhero scenarios are perfect for practicing movement and tableaux–two crucial components in drama. Tableaux is an easy concept for everyone to understand.  There are many ways to demonstrate it through the use of super heroes–maybe a group shows the moment Super Man protects someone from a monster?  Or Wonder Woman holds back the ocean so that a group of boaters aren’t drowned by it?

Students are familiar with super heroes jumps, falls, lunges and spins.  By studying movement using the super hero theme, students yet again feel comfortable moving around the room as they learn various elements of movement.  These scenarios often involve unexpected situations, requiring quick thinking and adaptability, which keeps students on their toes. Using those lessons to lead into studying tableau, makes for effortless studying of tableaux. Check out this lesson here.

Superhero Drama: Captivating Classroom Techniques

Lesson Number Five:  Improvisation

Superhero scenarios are perfect for practicing improvisation, a crucial skill in drama. These scenarios often involve unexpected situations and require quick thinking and adaptability, By doing so, this keeps students on their toes. My favorite way to teach improvisation to novices is through a few warm up exercises.   This exercise is titled “My Three Headed Monster” but it would be just as fun if the monster became a three headed super hero.  Pick it up here (page one) and  here (page two) Again, I have found this is always a successful teaching experience because students sit together on the stage. Although they are speaking spontaneously they must work out answers together.  

Reflective Learning

Make sure that after each activity you  encourage students to reflect on their performances.  Process is everything! Discussing what they learned and how they felt embodying their superheroes can deepen their understanding and appreciation of drama. Grab this bundle which can last over five days Super  here.

‘ Superhero Drama: Captivating Classroom Techniques

Super Hero Quotes as Writing Prompts: Lesson Number Six

Using quotes spoken by super heroes for writing prompts is useful in this situation, too. Here are a few I like:

  • “With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility.” Uncle Ben in Spider Man
  • “Heroes are made by the path they choose, not the powers they are graced with.” Iron Man
  • “You are much stronger than you think you are. Trust me.” Super Man
  • “You don’t need to be a super hero.  You just need to be better than you were yesterday.”
  •  “A true hero isn’t measured by the size of her strength, but by the strength of her heart.” Wonder Woman
  • “The woman who follows the crowd will grow no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.” Super Woman

Using superhero themes in the drama classroom can transform lessons into engaging, imaginative experiences. It is easy to connect dramatic principles to beloved characters. You can make learning more exciting and relatable for students. So, be courageous!  Embrace your inner hero and lead your students on an epic journey through the world of drama, where creativity and engagement soar.

Have you ever taught using a super hero theme to teach concepts? I’d love to hear about it.  Just email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com

Woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

9 Compelling Reasons Why You Need Lessons Using Super Heroes

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9 Compelling Reasons Why You Need Lessons Using Super Heroes

Have you ever experienced a “Eureka” moment while teaching?  You know those moments where everything just clicks and everyone is surprised, especially you? In this case it was super heroes. Let’s talk about 9 compelling reasons why you need lessons using super heroes.

I’ve shared several times that I taught a pre-elective drama class to sixth graders for thirteen years.  If you’d like more information about that time, check out: How to Make Your Drama Class More Successful –Lessons Learned from 38 Years of Teaching-Middle School.  One of the most exhausting parts of it was the constant lesson planning.

If you are at all like me, you know that the “lesson planning monkey” on your back is demanding. And relentless.  Finally, in desperation one week, I took a stab and did something completely spontaneous with my students.  I used super heroes in all my lessons for a week.  The students were thrilled and I was, too!

Many super heroes grouped together

Did you know that super heroes have been a part of our world for nearly one hundred years?

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

If I’ve convinced you to consider utilizing super heroes in your teaching, read on!

9 Compelling Reasons Why You Need Lessons Using Super Heroes

When I began writing this blog post, I ran on to a wonderful website, Momjunction.com who stated:

Reason #1: Superhero play gives kids the chance to pretend to be strong and invincible,

Reason #2: They encourage students to make new friends and helps them develop an identity outside of real life.

Reason #3: Super heroes  help children explore moral values and dilemmas and to establish what they and others perceive as right and wrong.

Reason #4: They help children build their confidence. Exposing students to the fantastic world of superheroes may help them come out of the shell and encourage them to face the world with renewed confidence.

Reason #5: Also, they act as role models. Superheroes can be good role models as they teach children various attributes such as courage, honesty, humility, fighting spirit, sense of responsibility, and leadership.

Reason #6: Super heroes instill compassion. Because they are aware of their superiority, it gives the a different perspective on others.  They know that they could destroy most everything and everyone.  Consequently, they understand their actions–both physical and emotional are not only necessary but need to be governed at all times.

What Superheroes Teach Us About Strength, Teamwork, and Joy

Reason #7: They teach willpower and courage.  Super heroes don’t give up at the first failure.  They keep trying until they read their goal.

Reason #8: As you might expect, they  model teamwork.  When super heroes work together they know they must share the burden of the challenge and employ the best in each other. All team members respect each other’s opinions and capabilities while collectively working towards the common goal.

Reasons #9 They are just plain fun.  Super Heroes and their quests take us to a different place in our imaginations where anything is possible. Pick up some fun supplies for your super hero week here: Super Hero Teaching Supplies

Have I convinced you yet to use super heroes in your teaching?

This is How I Can Help You

Maybe you need some ready-made lessons?  I have a brand new Dramamommaspeaks store where you can purchase a few lessons with a superhero theme.

Each lessons focuses on a different theme–playwriting (the monologue), tableau and movement, costume design and storytelling.

A teacher could use them as is in their drama classroom or a reading teacher could integrate them into a unit about super heroes.  Usually students in grades 5 to 8 enjoy them the most, but you know your students the best so you decide.  You can purchase them at Payhip.com or Teacherspayteacher.com.

My Teaching Style

You may find my lessons to be quite unique–there’s a reason.  Since I taught theater classes for nearly forty years, I had the rare opportunity to watch theater subjects unfold and change over many years.  I got to see first hand what worked and what wasn’t so successful.  For instance, there was a time when we didn’t even try to teach technical theater, but now we have lots of units about them.

During this time, I noticed that middle and elementary teachers were using themed units to teach particular concepts or objectives. The students appeared very excited by them.  Hence, when I was exhausted from planning I turned to using themes to teach theater concepts and it worked wonderfully. Here is one for Halloween: Halloween Drama Lessons and Units 

If you want to learn more about how to integrate drama into your classroom, check out: How to Excite Students With Drama Integration

What are some themed units you’ve taught?  I’d love to hear about them.  Email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com and let’s chat!

Woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

Your Secret Teaching Allies-Super Heroes

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Your Secret Teaching Allies--Super Heroes

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?

Image result for kids dressed as super heroes

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.

Your Secret Allies--Super Heroes

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.”

SAPR - Super Hero Run

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. 

Your Secret Teaching Allies--Super Heroes

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!

Your Secret Teaching Allies-Super Heroes

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

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

Your Secret Teaching Allies--Super Heroes

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

Woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

What are Super Hero Postcard Stories

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https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Storytelling-Super-Hero-Post-Card-Stories-3238578

Are you looking an exercise to super charge your classroom?  Something fun but useful to teach with these weeks right before a holiday break? How about Super Hero Postcard Stories?

Simply put, this warm up exercise is loads of fun because YOU are the hero!  Students love creating the story around you.

Your materials list is easy:  a box of photographs of all kinds and a copy of a postcard story of your own or another student group from another time. In the lesson, I  have included a copy of one my students’ stories just to give you an idea of what to expect.

Sometimes my students dramatize their story (it’s always very short) or merely share the story with the class. When they dramatize their story, I ask them to use chanting (repeated words or phrases for an effect), a sound effect or two and some movement.  They even create a title for their story. My students LOVE this exercise!

Why super heroes?  First, they are wildly popular with all ages.  Look at the ticket sales for Wonder Woman and the Black Panther.  How wonderful to focus upon females and people of color!  Think what that can do for some student.

super hero post cards stories

Plus, some times our students think we are stuffy when in fact, we are busy curtailing over enthusiasm.  It’s not that we can’t have fun, but too much fun because bedlam in a drama classroom.

The Super Hero Postcard Stories are your answer to fun and learning!

I’d love to hear how this exercise works for you.

If you enjoy this one, please check out my store at Teacherspayteachers.com at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Dramamommaspeaks

I’m always adding new products.  My radio theatre unit is very popular, so check it out:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/RADIO-THEATRE-IN-THE-CLASSROOM-Tune-In-and-Turn-On-3319922

It is a three week unit focused on radio theatre–how to perform it, various lessons on radio theatre itself, cooperative learning and even a homework assignment.  Oh yes, I almost forgot–I included a vintage radio theatre play which I adapted for classroom use–H.S. Welle’s The Invisible Man.

Or maybe something else will help you.

Please feel to share this post with others, too!

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

 

What are Super Hero Postcard Stories? 

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What are Super Hero Postcard Stories?

It’s fairly self explanatory.  Students create stories about a super hero, but there’s a catch. (sorry, no spoiler here–you’ll just have to check out the product.)

super hero postcard stories

Every year, I taught a storytelling unit–it lasts three weeks and culminated in a storytelling festival.

One of the least stressful performing experieinces is storytelling.  Why, we humans do it everyday.

Have you ever told your family about your day?  Did you use different voices to convey what occured that day between you and someone else?

Here is some of the scoop.

Super Hero Postcard stories needs very few materials–a box of postcards of all kinds (nature, cities, people, famous places, etc.) and maybe a box of sound effects if you have them.

The exercise takes around thirty minutes to complete.

Super Hero Postcard stories are an engaging activity.  The students work in cooperative groups crafting a story which originates through various images they “lift” from the postcards.  There is one catch–sorry, I still won’t tell you what it is, though.

The group is expected to write down their story and dramatize it in some fashion.  Sometimes they act it out, sometimes they don’t. They are encouraged to give their story a title.

Everyone in the group is required to participate whether as actors or sound effect engineers (called Foleys) if performing seems too scarey.

The product comes with:

  • the history of super heroes
  • teacher’s questions
  • procedure page
  • an example of a story written by a group of my students

Trust me, I have taught drama since before we had dirt.  A. long.time.

I know what works and what doesn’t.

Super Hero Postcard Stories works!

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or check out my website at DeborahBaldwin.net

I’d love to hear from you.  Talk with you soon!