Social Studies / History

 

General / Current Events

 

NEWS PLAYS:  Supports Social Studies, History, or Current Events curricula.  Involves improvisation, group planning, and performance.  For older Elementary students.

 

 

Cultural Development

 

COMING TOGETHER:  A narrative pantomime about space and visualizing space, and about community and friendships.  For Elementary and older.

 

 

World Cultures

 

AROUND THE WORLD IN THIRTY MINUTES: An imaginary journey that teaches geography and cultures.  For Elementary students.

 

PUPPETS IN THE DRAMA CLASSROOM:  A collection of puppet-making and puppetry projects.

 

SOCIAL ROLES:  A pantomime guessing game that teaches the idea of social roles within any society, and supports a Social Studies curriculum in world cultures.  For older Elementary students.

 

THE DISCOVERY OF FIRE:  An improvised scene about early humans.  For older Elementary and up.

 

RITUALS: Students create their own magical rituals while exploring the importance of ritual to early (and modern) cultures.  For older Elementary and up.

 

PAPER MASKS: A lesson using masks to teach body language.  Can be related to a Social Studies unit on Greek Theatre.  For older Elementary and up.

 

MAKE YOUR OWN GREEK PLAY:  An exercise designed to teach concepts about Classical Greek drama in a hands-on way.  For older Middle School and up.

 

 

Geography

 

AROUND THE WORLD IN THIRTY MINUTES: An imaginary journey that teaches geography and cultures.  For Elementary students.

 

 

Immigrants

 

NO, YOU CAN'T TAKE ME!:  A fun game that requires critical thinking skills.  For Elementary students.

 

THANKSGIVING FEAST:  A narrative pantomime about using our senses and the First Thanksgiving.  For Kindergarten and up.

 

 

Oregon Trail

 

NEWS PLAYS:  Supports Social Studies, History, or Current Events curricula.  Involves improvisation, group planning, and performance.  For older Elementary students.

 

OREGON TRAIL PROPAGANDA:  Supports a Social Studies unit about the Oregon Trail.  Examines the nature of propaganda, as well as the nature of advertising in today's world.  For older Elementary students.

 

Also see How We Wrote a Play in the Large Projects section.

 

 

Inventors

 

BEN FRANKLIN'S INVENTIONS:  A physical creativity game.  For Elementary students.