by Evelina Robinson

Created on: January 29, 2009

Being a preschool teacher is a very rewarding experience. You have these three and four year old children that are just at the beginning to use their minds for solving problems, asking questions and have a wide variety of imagination. Drama is a wonderful way for these children to use their young minds. Drama also helps with their social skills.

You can use popular story books that you have already read to the children for them to act out. For instance, the story of Goldilocks and The Three Bear .First take time and read the story. As you read the story, demonstrate how each character would act. If you have to use cut out pieces for the characters then this would be great. The children can see the expression on the characters so that they can imitate them. After you have read the story, tell the children that "now you are going to be one of the bears or Goldilocks. Count how many children you have in your class. Let each child have a turn in choosing which character they would want to play. You will then read the story again and as you read you can let the children know when to say their parts. At first it may take them a while to catch on. After several times however, they will want to do this play over and over again. You can take any simply story and have the children act out. You can also use other books that have more characters and let them act them out as well.

In any of the centers that are in your class the children can use drama as a learning tool. In the homeliving center you can tell the children that they are a family. They are to prepare a meal for you to enjoy. After they have set the meal up, have them tell you what kind of dinner they have prepare. In the block center tell the children that they are to build a city. Let them know that you will return to the center to live in their city. When you return ask them how they built it, what is the name of the city and any other questions you may have. In the reading area children can pretend that they are the teacher.

There are other ways that drama can be use in the preschool classroom. A simple game of guess what I am doing or guess what I am is a way for the children to express themselves. Write down items that the children are familiar with on paper ( such as animals, fruits, cars, trucks, etc). Have each child sit in a circle. You can start the game off so that they will know how the game is to be played. Choose one of the slips of paper with items you have written down. After looking at the paper, begin to act out the animal or whatever you have chosen without saying a word. Only use you eyes, hands, feet or different parts of your body. The children will have fun with this game.

Activities that children can express themselves is a great way to introduce drama in the classroom. You will be surprised at some of the ways that preschoolers express themselves.

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