Discovering Drama: Theory and Practice for the Primary School

Discovering Drama: Theory and Practice for the Primary School

Written for Primary school teachers, undergraduate and postgraduate students of Education and Drama, this is a comprehensive theoretical and practical book which situates the teaching of drama in the context of the Irish Education system. It provides descriptions of a range of process dramas, which were facilitated and developed in primary schools throughout Ireland. Each drama is followed by an analysis of the theoretical and practical principles which underpin it, thereby seeking to empower the teacher with the knowledge and skills needed to implement further drama programmes. The emphasis of the book is on a particular approach to the teaching of drama known as process drama, which is the basis of the revised primary curriculum in Ireland.

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Planning and facilitating issues
3. Drama and Play in the Early Years (Junior/Senior Infants)
4. Part one - Winter’s Dilemma - (First/Second Class); Part Two - Teacher-in-Role
5. Part One - The Children of Lir - (Third/Fourth Class); Part Two - Working Physically in drama
6. Part One - The explorations of Tom Creen - (Fifth/ Sixth Class); Part Two - Improvisation
7. Using script as a stimulus for Drama (Fourth to Sixth Class)
8. Process Drama and Theatre
9. Appendix

About the Authors
Paula Murphy is a lecturer in Education (Drama) in St. Patrick’s College, Dublin. Margaret O’Keeffe is a lecturer in Education (Drama) in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. They currently lecture on undergraduate, post-graduate and in-service programmes. They previously worked as primary school teachers, and as Education Officers for TEAM Educational Theatre Company. They have presented at a variety of national and international conferences, and are committee members of ADEI (Assoc. of Drama in Education in Ireland).

[ISBN: 9780717139347; 170 Pages]

[Authors: Paula Murphy and Margaret O'Keeffe; Age Suitability: Primary]