Chapter 12: Nurturing the Imagination Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. “…the imagination is not just a faculty separate from the mind. It is the mind itself in its entirety…” —Gianni Rodari (1996, p. 12)

What Are the Dramatic Arts? Dramatic arts, pretend play, or theater arts… Is there a difference? Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

The Dramatic Arts The dramatic arts are the most integrative of all the arts. Copyright 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Dramatic Arts and Children For young children, drama or pretend play is their natural form of learning about the world. Participating in formal theatrical productions is not appropriate for children under the age of eight. Copyright 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Importance of Pretend Play Pretend play helps children develop abstract thought. Copyright 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

What Are the Elements of the Dramatic Arts? Focus Tension & contrast Timing Rhythm Language & sound Mood Place Space Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

What Is the Relationship Between the Dramatic Arts and Children’s Play? Piaget’s Levels of Play Practice-play Symbolic Play Game-based play Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

What Is the Relationship Between the Dramatic Arts and Children’s Play? (continued) Play lets children: Try out social behaviors Switch viewpoints Develop their brain connections Explore new roles Achieve better academic success Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

The Dramatic Elements Place—setting and props Characterization Language Movement Communication Imagination Narrative Copyright 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

How Do Children Grow Through the Dramatic Play? Dramatic play helps children grow: Physically Socially Cognitively Linguistically Emotionally Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

How Do Children Grow Through the Dramatic Play? (continued) Connecting Creating Performing Responding Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

How Do We Address Special Needs? Set boundaries. Develop familiarity with props. Give asides and prompts. Use signals (auditory and visual). Provide buddies. Combat stereotypes. Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

What Is the Teacher’s Role in Children’s Play? Value children’s need for play Provide sufficient playtime Assume a level of involvement that best matches the needs of the children. Teacher Participation 1.Uninvolved 2.Onlooker 3.Observer 4.Stage manager 5.Co-player 6.Mediator 7.Play leader 8.Director Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

How Are Dramatic Arts Activities Designed? Facilitate with words Use props Model social situations Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Elaborating on children’s pretend play develops language and social skills:

How Are Dramatic Arts Activities Designed? (continued) Centers provide a stage in which young actors can take on roles and pretend. Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Prop box: Provide a set of objects that spark imaginations.

How Are Dramatic Arts Activities Designed? (continued) Make sure centers and prop boxes have: Objects reflective of children’s cultures Objects reflective of other cultures Objects used by people with disabilities Dolls representing different genders, races, ethnicities, and ages Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

How Are Dramatic Arts Activities Designed? (continued) To develop the imagination, try: Mind pictures Memory pictures Imagining the familiar Trips of the imagination Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Guided Imagery

The Pantomime Experience Provide adequate space. Know the audience. Have enough props. Be visible and audible. Build on previous experiences. Make boundaries, rules, and signals clear. Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

The Improvisation Experience Use improvisation to develop: Dramatic skills Social skills Content-based knowledge Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

The Story Play Experience Finger plays Storytelling Narrative drama Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

How Do We Introduce Children’s Theater? Age- appropriate Preparation Practice Responding Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

How Do We Use the Dramatic Arts to Assess Growth? Dramatic play can be used as a form of assessment for: Content knowledge Thinking skills Physical skills Language skills Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Conclusion: Imagine It! The Power of Play: Importance: Power of Play: Role of Adults: Play: A Vygotskian Approach: Dalcroze Eurhythmics Bunny Story: Comic Mime with Children: Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.