Rhymes and Stories for Dramatic development.
Take a nursery rhyme to get us into the playful place, e.g. Jack and Jill
In small groups students pick and identify the HOT event of the story.
Ask: MUM : Mentioned /Un-Mentioned Character
Ask: KDS :Know, Don’t Know, Suspect
Ask : WOW
Who has a question to answer here?
Of whom?
Where
When?
You now have material and roles to move the story on.
Then ask questions in the voice of family or friends of the main characters. e.g. why did Jill not go home to her Mum straight away?
Why was Jack afraid to say where Jill was?
Identify a responsible person who might have a question to ask? Mam, Police, Doctor, Teacher, Dad.
Identify another person who might have a question to answer, neighbour, bystander.
The person, their friend.
Let children ask you questions first out of then in role. Find a character with power. In the case of jack and Jill it is someone with information.
Identify and describe status, intention and the theme that seems to be emerging.
Now pick a book from the pile. Skim read it paying attention to the pictures.
Pick a partner and a Children’s picture book from the pile. Speed read and summarise to your partner. What is the point of tension in the story where you would stop.
Use the MUM, KDS, WOW enquiry structure as above.
Play roles out together. Reflect on nature of roles.
Who would play each type of role?
Teacher plays role with most information.
Children play role which wants or needs information.
Remember ! Information is power. Use it to create tension of enquiry with children.
Of Whom?
