Using Plays With Classes and/or
Small Children's Groups

 

When working with children in a group setting, the use of
a performance play is an excellent way of promoting a variety of skills in an enjoyable manner.

The play canbe a performance activity, where the children get parts, memorize them and present the play before an audience. There are many benefits to this use of the play format:

1. Enhances memorization skills.

2. Allows the children the experience of working cooperatively in a joint effort that has a climatic outcome.

3. It provides a sense of accomplishment for the children.

4. When using their memory, they get a sense of logical
sequence which they internalize and transfer to other activities,especially, in comprehension when reading.

5. When performing a play, children are encouraged to
speak their parts with expression. This also helps with
their reading comprehension skills.

6.If the children write a simple play, their writing skills will
be enhanced. Even if the play is professionally written, the
children are getting experience with good writing, as is one
advantageous result of reading.

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A play can also be useful as an informal actitivity in which
the children are given parts which they DO NOTmemorize.
Rather, they read from the script when their part comes up.
An easy way of doing this activity is to assign the children
numbers -- and write the numbers next to parts which these children will read when it is their turn.

For example:

Here is the beginning of a play were about five children going on a trip to the zoo. Since there are only six charactes in the story, several children will be reading
the parts of each character.

The characters are Marlena, Maggie, Alice, Tom, John, Shawn

child 1- Maggie: I am so excited .We are going to the zoo . today.

child 2- Marlena: Yes, going with grandma Alice is
.....always so much fun.

child 3- Maggie: Do you think we can buy stuff?

child 4- John: Well, your grandmother always lets us get things we like.

 

Notice that child 1 and child 3 share the role of Maggie.

It is a good idea to put a large paper with the child's number
on that child's desk so that he or she will remember when
to say his or her part.

Try to give each child the same number of parts if possible. If it is necessary to add to the script, that would be advisable.

 

Even though this play is not performed, there are many benefits to this exercise:

1. Attention skills-- children must pay close attention to what is being read so that they know when their part comes along.

2. Concentration skills-- In order to pay attention, the children must concentrate on the activity.

Children should be encouraged to read the play in this
exercise with as much expression as they can. Reading
with expression helps children internalize the rhythm of
language and enhances their comprehension skills.

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