Is it possible to learn about a particular period of history and discover historical concepts by becoming real men and women of the past, reliving dramatic moments of their lives, and experiencing their problems and actions? Sharon Fennessey’s students are living proof that it is. History in the Spotlight shows teachers how they can help their students do the same and, in the process, make their own social studies programs more exciting and meaningful.
History in the Spotlight brings new life to the study of social studies by integrating the tools of creative drama and theatre—tools like pantomime, movement, improvisation, scripted drama, oral interpretation, debating, public speaking, readers theatre, storytelling, and the many other ways we use our body or voice to creatively communicate ideas to others. Taking into account the curriculum standards for social studies, the national standards for arts education in theatre, and Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, Fennessey provides readers with the strategies that have worked best in her classroom such as:
- a wide variety of drama activities with an historical focus
- step-by-step modeling of historical improvisations and reenactments
- an outline of the basics for creating an historical play production
- examples of dramatic language arts activities for social studies teaching
- a detailed description of an integrated unit on slavery and abolitionism
- "In the Spotlight" sections at the end of each chapter, describing a lesson or project in detail, including sample assessment ideas
- examples of how drama and theatre come into play with the social studies standards
- annotated professional books and resource literature for each chapter.
Readers will discover for themselves that when they use creative drama and theatre practices, excitement replaces boredom in the social studies classroom and students participate enthusiastically in their lessons.
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