Drama Games Module 1: Lesson 2 - Setting up your space

So far, so good!

Following the readings it is hard to argue against the legitimacy of using drama as a teaching strategy, it supports ELA skills, teaches to multiple learning styles and intelligences, promotes literacy etcetera, etcetera.

For many of us the real challenges arise in how to actually begin. How do you start actively using drama games in your classroom? How do you control and manage your classroom? How do you make them work effectively?

The first step to using drama is to set up your teaching space effectively. There are many who may think that in order to carry out drama activities you need a large space, a cafetorium or a stage to work on. You don't. I regularly teach drama classes in a 20' x 15' room, it's not ideal but it is possible. If you have access to a large open area or stage then go ahead and use it, but for the purpose of this course I'm going to assume that you wish to use your own classroom and it is for this type of space that all of the following guidelines and recommendations apply.

The importance of layout

The size of your room is not as important as how you lay it out, the average classroom is more than adequate for drama games.

You want to achieve a clear open space where participants are able to move around free from obstacles and if the game calls for, it be able to see one another. So the first thing to do is...

De-clutter

To facilitate movement and work safely, you need your space to be clear. So first of all decide which area within your classroom you want to use for your game and then move all of the furniture out of the way, clear desks, stack chairs and keep it open!

It is also important to keep it neat and tidy, an organized space suggests structure, so keep things looking organized. Drama activities are there to enhance instruction but they are still instruction! Do not let yours or your students standards slip, it is important to establish that this is not recess or "just for fun". Continue, as always to maintain a structured and organized classroom.

Seating to get started

Once you have cleared the room, you can then set up chairs where you would like your students to sit. A circle works best to get started and for the simpler games, it enables everyone to see one another and creates an environment of equal status. Furthermore no individual student stands out and no student can hide at the back. Not to mention that everyone can see you, the leader.

!!!BONUS GAME!!!

Why should you be the one to move everything? It's a struggle to move all of those desks and chairs, it eats up valuable planning time! Think about your class, you have an army of minions... (ahem)... students to assist you in setting up the space. Turn the set-up into a game itself, designate setup tasks to individual students or groups of students. Some can be responsible for moving chairs, others for the desks. This will take some organizing the first time you do it but it will get quicker each subsequent time, knowing that you can set your room up quickly with your students help for a drama activity takes away some of the intimidation of preparation. Once your students know what to do and get the hang of moving furniture you can ask them to do it in a particular way:

See if they can carry out their set up tasks:

Without making a sound
In a timed period
Walking in a particular way (on tiptoes, like chickens etc.)

Making the task of arranging a room into a game, adds to the engagement of the activity and makes a routine task more fun. With your room set up you can move onto the next step...