Dramatize a Story Listening and Producing Oral Language Ana Perez Dr. Gomez BIED/DL 5338 Activity # 7

Research Research has shown the positive effects of improvised story dramatization on language development and student achievement in oral and written story recall, writing, and reading (Pellegrini, 1997).

Story Dramatizations Story dramatizations are based on a story that students are familiar with. While it is planned by students, a script is not necessary. Since students are familiar with the story and characters, they can improvise a character’s actions and speech. This will allow that different students to play different roles each time the story is played. The dramatization can be recast with different students playing different parts each time it is played so that everyone has an opportunity to step into the roles. A narrator can be added to read parts of the story. The classroom environment needs to be considered to set up the setting of the dramatizations.

Lesson Sequence 1. The teacher will choose and read a book for students to dramatize that is grade level appropriate. Picture books with repeated phrases that students can chant are good choices for younger children. Traditional literature, such as folk tales, myths and legends are good choices for older students.

Lesson Sequence 2. The teacher will make a chart and re-read the story to plan story dramatization. This will allow students to be familiar with the story. Ask students to note the setting, characters, and sequence of events or plot, as well as the most exciting parts, the climax, the way the story ended, mood and theme, and important phrases and characteristic things characters say. 3. The teacher will review and discuss with the students the main events of the story and the sequence in which they occurred. 4. The teacher will brainstorm with students which main events of the story could be dramatized as a scene.

Lesson Sequence The teacher will first take volunteers for the first cast. Students will choose the role from the story they will like to act out. All students can be engaged in each dramatization by using stories that have a type of character that can be played by many students. Students not playing in the story can be the audience. Teacher may provide students with materials related to the story to help them dramatize. Teacher needs to motivate students to use their own words together with the book dialogue to elaborate and extend the story.

Lesson Sequence The students will dramatize the story.

Lesson Sequence Play the story again with another group of students. The teacher can take new volunteers to play characters in the story so that all students have the opportunity to step into one of the roles.

Extension Activity Have group of students collaborate to create a different ending to the story.

References Cox, Carole. (2014). Story Dramatization. Retrieved from: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/48586 Drama Techniques. Retrieved from: http://www.penguinreaders.com/pdf/downloads/pyr/PYRTGDramStories.pdf Five Components of Effective Oral Language Instruction. Retrieved from: http://pdst.ie/sites/default/files/Oral%20Language%20Booklet%20PDF.pdf Kindergarten Accomplishments in Reading Related to Oral Language. Retrieved from: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/readingfirst/2008conferences/language.pdf Oral Language and Vocabulary Development Activities For Student-Student Interaction. Retrieved from: http://www.palmbeachschools.org/multicultural/documents/OralLanguageDevelopmentActivities.pdf