Teaching Drama Online/Socially Distanced

In response to the challenging situation most of us are facing regarding quarantine/ return to ‘normality’ during the coronavirus crisis, a lot of teachers have been asking how to teach drama online – and socially-distanced. Below are some ideas for adapting activities from my book ‘Drop Of A Hat Drama Lessons‘ (click arrow to read), followed by a list of articles and resources.

Teaching Drama Online and Socially Distanced

ADAPTING DRAMA TEACHING FOR A NEW ERA

This has been a challenging time for all teachers. We hope and anticipate that the drama activities on this site will be enjoyed with full interaction in safe and healthy circumstances.

These drama games and strategies were originally designed to be used in halls, studios or classrooms. Where restrictions are in place, many of the activities can be adapted for enjoyable and productive online, socially-distanced or blended learning. Here we outline a few principles to bear in mind when adapting a session. Always ensure that you check the latest Health and Safety guidelines and your school procedures.

REMOTE (ONLINE) TEACHING

Online drama lessons are still subject to the same high expectations of student behaviour and responsibility. Maintaining your normal routines before and during lessons will help to ground your teaching and your relationship with the students. Most drama activities can be undertaken using distance-learning platforms such as Zoom. The main meeting room can be used for whole class activities, while group work can be achieved using breakout rooms.

Physical Activities

For physical activities, students can respond individually to make body shapes and movements. Where possible, encourage students to stand some distance away from the screen/camera so that they can use their whole body. Actions can be carried out on the spot instead of moving around the space.

Spoken Activities

For spoken pair or group activities, breakout rooms can be used if appropriate for the students. Short scenes or improvisations can be developed, rehearsed and then shared with the rest of the class back in the main meeting room. If you are not using breakout rooms, an alternative is to simultaneously unmute two or more students in the main meeting room so that they can improvise together while the rest of the class practise audience skills by watching, listening and making constructive comments afterwards.

Using the chat function (or mini-whiteboards if available) are effective ways of enabling students to make written responses which would otherwise have been spoken, for example in discussions.

SOCIALLY-DISTANCED ACTIVITIES

Before beginning activities in a shared physical space, carry out a thorough risk assessment. Consideration needs to be given as to how students enter and leave a space as well as to how they work inside it.

Most drama activities can be adapted with social distancing in place. A common approach is to mark out a grid containing measured squares for each student so that they are kept aware of distancing throughout the session. Circle games can also work with social distancing. In good weather, outside spaces are a great choice for drama activities.

Guidelines vary, so we recommend that you take note of the most up-to-date regulations and recommendations at all times.

Adapted from Drop Of A Hat Drama Lessons by David Farmer (Drama Resource 2021)

 

Two Truths And A Lie

Two Truths And A Lie

Play online or live - tell your partner three things about yourself – two of which are true and one of which is a lie ...
Three Word Sentences

Three Word Sentences

Sometimes three words are just enough ...
Groovy Image Factory

Groovy Image Factory

Quickly generate repeating actions and sounds or words ...
Pecking Order

Pecking Order

Can you work out where you stand in the pecking order? ...
Story Orchestra

Story Orchestra

The group tells a story, with a conductor guiding the narrative ...
Poetry in Motion

Poetry in Motion

Poetry can be explored and presented effectively through drama and movement ...
Shoe Shuffle

Shoe Shuffle

Develop imagination and mime skills using everyday objects ...
Daft Definitions

Daft Definitions

Put random words together to invent new concepts! Great storytelling warm-up ...
Three Changes

Three Changes

An observation and getting to know you game - with online version ...
Family Portraits - Online/Socially Distanced

Family Portraits – Online/Socially Distanced

Groups have just a few seconds to make comical family tableaux ...
Podcasts and Webinars with David Farmer

Podcasts and Webinars with David Farmer

Podcasts and Webinars about drama teaching featuring David Farmer ...
Drama Menu at a Distance: 80 Socially Distanced or Online Theatre Games by Glyn Trefor-Jones

Drama Menu at a Distance: 80 Socially Distanced or Online Theatre Games by Glyn Trefor-Jones

Drama games for socially-distanced and online teaching, carefully planned for this difficult period we are living through ...
Mountview Live Interviews

Mountview Live Interviews

Zoom interviews with Dame Judi Dench, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Noma Dumezweni, Amanda Holden, Glenda Jackson and Stephen Daldry ...
60-Minute Special - Cirque du Soleil

60-Minute Special – Cirque du Soleil

A 78-minute special, featuring the best live show moments of La Nouba, Varekai and Quidam by Cirque de Soleil ...
Make your own frog and toad puppets

Make your own frog and toad puppets

Norwich Puppet Theatre teach you to make a toad puppet ...
Imaginarium

Imaginarium

An exciting and completely unpredictable way to quickly develop a scene ...
Ten Second Objects

Ten Second Objects

Small groups make the shape of an object using their bodies - in only ten seconds! ...
Guess Who I Am (inc Online Version)

Guess Who I Am (inc Online Version)

A fun way of creating characters from any picture ...
Mr Horne's Performing Arts Channel

Mr Horne’s Performing Arts Channel

A YouTube channel produced by Mr Horne for his Primary Performing Arts curriculum classes – well worth a look! ...
Share Your Shakespeare Online

Share Your Shakespeare Online

The RSC invites you to share your favourite Shakespeare video or photo ...
Where Do You Stand? (inc Online Version)

Where Do You Stand? (inc Online Version)

A fast and effective way of discovering everybody’s opinions about a subject - online or offline ...
Drama One to One Online/Offline

Drama One to One Online/Offline

Therapeutic drama one-to-one, online and offline - an interview with Janine Oxley ...
How to Direct a Show Online

How to Direct a Show Online

Is it possible to continue rehearsals for a youth theatre production with a cast of 33 during the coronavirus crisis? ...

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