Key Stage 1 Drama Lesson Ideas
These fabulous ideas and helpful books will help you teach drama at key stage one. Drama is a natural learning method for this age-group which makes it easy to teach using these methods. (For further background theory please read the post Why Teach Drama?)
Funnybones– seven practical, fun and easy-to-do drama activities linked to the popular book, suitable for key stage 1.
The Tiger Child – five fun drama and storytelling activities suitable for reception and key stage 1.
The Gruffalo – fun lesson ideas for the best-selling book by Julia Donaldson.
Activities
One-Two-Three – A quick and easy warm-up game which involves counting from one to three – but takes a lot of concentration.
Drama Lessons – a collection of drama lessons and units for primary-aged students, key stage one and two.
Ten Second Objects – I use this in just about every drama session – it’s great fun and only takes ten seconds!
Freeze Frames – this classic method can be used to create tableaux of just about anything.
Story Books for Drama Teaching – a list of storybooks which can provide the launch pad for a one-off drama session or several weeks of work (key stage 1 and 2).
Bringing Fairy Tales to Life through Drama – how to use traditional stories as raw material for many drama sessions.
Sound Pictures – create a “soundscape” using children’s voices and bodies (and possibly musical instruments).
Books
Learning Through Drama in the Primary Years – this ebook/paperback gives you all you need for teaching drama across the curriculum at key stage 1 and 2.
Drama Play: Bringing Books to Life Through Drama for 4 to 7 Year Olds – a series of ready-planned drama lessons based on 12 readily-available books for 4-7 year olds.
Drama Games for Young Children – 40 lesson plans for those wishing to develop dramatic role-play, characterisation, exploration of emotions and themes with young children.
Shakespeare’s Heartbeat – Drama Games for Children with Autism – a fascinating book outlining an effective approach to teaching Shakespeare to children on the autistic spectrum.
