Thursday, April 10, 2014

Why School Plays For Middle School Learners Are Beneficial

By Anita Ortega


One of the most dynamic and useful ways in which to educate kids going through formal schooling is by having learners at all levels participate in dramatic or theatre activities in the classroom. There are many, excellent advantages to the structured use of theatre activities for educational purposes. For one, it helps to bring subject matter to life in a way that is great fun, and that involves active participation from learners. Moreover, there are also many benefits to school plays for middle school kids especially, that go far beyond the immediate environment of the classroom.

What kids learn through regularly partaking in classroom drama activities will serve the young ones well in the social environment beyond the educational institution. Children get to exercise, and receive feedback on, interpersonal communication and social skills through rehearsing and speaking lines on stage. In addition, these actions also stimulate creativity, and develop physical movements and postures that are important for overall development.

As a matter of course, kids also improve academic skills through performing theatrical acts. The latter teaches the young ones to learn to focus and concentrate on words, actions and phrases, and to remember these. Aside from enriching vocabulary, these acts also therefore strengthen the memory in a fun and engaging manner. It is little wonder that most kids that perform in dramas at school perform better academically than many learners who do not participate in such activities.

Acting in classroom dramas helps to build confidence. Kids learn how to speak and express themselves with clarity and meaningfully, or else fellow play mates won't understand what's being said. Confident kids tend to perform better academically as well. Naturally, these sorts of actions will have benefits in the wider society as well.

In order to make what kids rehearse in class work on stage, requires cooperation. These activities afford the chance for children to learn about accommodating views that differ from their own. Since rehearsing and performing in drama activities are essentially a social endeavour, young learners get to exercise and refine social interaction and cooperation skills as well.

One of the most important social and interpersonal attributes a child learns to grow through drama is empathy. In rehearsals, learners are compelled to pay attention to, and take seriously, what play mates are saying and doing. Moreover, it also fosters appreciation of, and learning to respond appropriately to, the emotional states of others, even though they might be assuming the role of characters.

Participation in dramatic plays teach kids powerful public speaking habits. These will serve those well that wish to pursue careers at a later point that demands refined public speaking skills. Many kids discover through these activities early on that they have a knack for professions that involve teaching, acting, the theatre, or the law.

On a psychological level, being part of a drama group, or taking part in classroom activities that involve regular play acting, there are many tremendous benefits. Shy children have the opportunity to learn self-expression in a fun environment. Kids that don't want to be in the spotlight can play a less central role on stage, by helping to manage lighting and props, for instance. Learning through dramatic activities in class makes education fun, and comes with heaps of other developmental and personal advantages.




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