nurturing the imagination “…the imagination is not just a faculty separate from the mind. it is...

Nurturing the Imagination

“…the imagination is not just a faculty separate from the mind. It is the mind itself in its entirety…”

—Gianni Rodari (1996, p. 12)

Copyright 2012 Cengage Learning.All Rights Reserved.

The Dramatic Arts

The dramatic arts are the most integrative of all the arts.


Dramatic Arts and Children

• For young children, drama or pretend play is their natural form of learning about the world.

• Participating in formal theatrical productions is not appropriate for children under the age of eight.


Importance of Pretend PlayPretend play helps children develop

abstract thought.


Dramatic Play and Development

Dramatic play helps children grow:

• Physically

• Socially

• Cognitively

• Linguistically

• Emotionally


Drama Standards

By the end of the primary years, children should:

1. Improvise and write dramatic productions based on experiences

2. Change voice, movements, and actions to represent characters

3. Create settings, props, and costumes to enhance performances

4. Design and plan dramatizations


Drama Standards (continued)

By the end of the primary years, children should:

5. Read about and share information for use in dramatizations

6. Compare, connect, and describe the arts in dramatic projects

7. Explain preferences and meaning in dramatizations


The Dramatic Elements

• Place—setting and props

• Characterization

• Language

• Movement

• Communication

• Imagination

• NarrativeCopyright 2012 Cengage Learning.

All Rights Reserved.

Assessing Growth

Dramatic play can be used as a form of assessment for:

• Content knowledge

• Thinking skills

• Physical skills

• Language skills


Meeting Special Needs

• Set boundaries.

• Develop familiarity with props.

• Give asides and prompts.

• Use signals (auditory and visual).

• Provide buddies.

• Combat stereotypes.


Informal Dramatic Play

Elaborating on children’s pretend play develops language and social skills:

• Facilitate with words.

• Use props.

• Model social situations.


Play Centers

Centers provide a stage in which young actors can pretend.


Prop Boxes

Provide a set of objects that spark imaginations.


Adding Diversity

Make sure centers and prop boxes have:

• Objects reflective of children’s cultures

• Objects reflective of other cultures• Objects used by people with

disabilities• Dolls representing different genders,

races, ethnicities, and agesCopyright 2012 Cengage Learning.

All Rights Reserved.

Guided Imagery

To develop the imagination, try:

• Mind pictures

• Memory pictures

• Imagining the familiar

• Trips of the imagination


Planning Pantomimes

• Provide adequate space.

• Know the audience.• Have enough props.• Be visible and audible.• Build on previous

experiences.• Make boundaries, rules,

and signals clear.


Improvisation and Role-Playing

Use these forms to develop:

• Dramatic skills

• Social skills

• Content-based knowledge


Story Play

• Finger plays

• Storytelling

• Narrative drama


nurturing the imagination “…the imagination is not just a faculty separate from the mind. it is...

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