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Supporting Reading Success = Discovering Students" Superpower! Teachers may select any literary or informational text from the Language Arts, Social Studies, or Scienc... Read more

Supporting Reading Success = Discovering Students" Superpower!

Teachers may select any literary or informational text from the Language Arts, Social Studies, or Science curriculum. The Teaching Artist then aligns specific drama activities with the selected content to fully support student learning. (See Additional Notes for examples and grade level adaptations)

The residency typically consists of 5 sessions with possible teacher directed classwork in between. Each meeting incorporates a warm-up, a brief review, 1-2 drama activities, moments of self-reflection, a summary, and a preview.

Session 1 introduces students to Drama and develops comfort and confidence working simultaneously "alone together to focus attention and physically create abstract shapes using movement, freezes and levels.

Sessions 2 and 3 build on what students already know from guided readings of a story, a book or poetry, to explore transforming into a wide array of characters, animals, objects, and components of setting. Rather than "casting parts" , the program emphasizes an ensemble approach, allowing each child to portray all elements of the text. Students work individually, with partners and in small/large groups to brainstorm, problem-solve, improvise, reflect, and revise as they create tableaus, movement, dialogue, and/or narration.

Session 4 encourages cooperation and collaboration as the class develops an original version of the text.

Session 5 empowers students to present/observe the work and give/receive feedback, solidifying their learning in both Language Arts and Drama.

In Putting a Tale on its Feet, movement and improvisation activities focus on personal exploration assuring equal participation, as each child builds comprehension and retention. Dramatic games help all children discover and communicate meaning from even the most challenging text. Imagination and creativity extend the journey beyond the basics of Showing and Telling, into the excitement and accomplishment of Being and Doing.

45-60 minute sessions with a culminating grade-level share. Number of visits are flexible and are typically held once or twice a week to best integrate with selected Language Arts unit .... Read more

45-60 minute sessions with a culminating grade-level share.
Number of visits are flexible and are typically held once or twice a week to best integrate with selected Language Arts unit .
Schedule determined during the pre-planning meeting based on the needs of the school.

Chart paper or white board Agreed upon materials or copies Non-lined paper for each student (Grades 3-5)Copy of selected Language Arts unit or chapter and related text for the ... Read more

Chart paper or white board
Agreed upon materials or copies
Non-lined paper for each student (Grades 3-5)
Copy of selected Language Arts unit or chapter and related text for the planning meeting

Open space in classroom or multi-purpose space large enough for entire class to participate on their feet simultaneously or spread out to work in small groupsA large space or auditorium re... Read more

Open space in classroom or multi-purpose space large enough for entire class to participate on their feet simultaneously or spread out to work in small groups
A large space or auditorium reserved for Session 4 and Session 5, if sharing with the whole grade level

I can identify the literary elements of character, setting, events and theme and describe them in a grade-level story.I can use body, gesture and/or voice to create the setting... Read more

I can identify the literary elements of character, setting, events and theme and describe them in a grade-level story.

I can use body, gesture and/or voice to create the setting, communicate characters and demonstrate plot from a grade-level story.

I can collaborate with peers to apply elements of dramatic structure to a grade-level story and create a drama/theatre work to share informally with an audience.

Putting a Tale on its Feet has been successfully adapted to all ages, grades and reading levels. Younger children enjoy exploring character, plot and setting as they act out a story while a teac... Read more

Putting a Tale on its Feet has been successfully adapted to all ages, grades and reading levels. Younger children enjoy exploring character, plot and setting as they act out a story while a teacher or their peers read it aloud. Older students expand on Who, What and Where; embracing the challenges of delving into situation, motivation, and theme as they improvise scenes and create their own dialogue for the story."¨"¨

Choose any Language Arts, Social Studies or Science text or select one of the previously requested texts/themes shown below:

Original poem written and presented by each class, modeled on selected poetry types and linked to various Science units
Patience Wright, America"s First Sculptor and Revolutionary Spy by Pegi Deitz Shea (Colonial America)
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, Mossy by Jan Brett (Habitats/Home)
Skippy Jon Jones by Judy Schachner, Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (Multicultural)
George and Martha by James Marshall, Charlotte"s Web by E. B. White (Friendship)
Poetry by Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, Douglas Florian
A River Ran Wild by Lynn Cherry, Thirteen Moons on Turtle"s Back by Joseph Bruchac and Jonathan London (Nature/Environment)
Poetry about various reptiles and mammals
Aesop"s Fables

*All ACTive Learning Through Drama programs have been developed and implemented by a professional Theatre Educator in collaboration with Classroom Teachers and Arts Specialists.