Before you start teaching drama activities it is essential to set your expectations to help the students enjoy their experiences and to make things run smoothly – especially if it is new to them! Here are some guidelines to share with the children.
- Establish the boundaries where the drama will take place, for example if you are teaching drama in a classroom establish that the children do not go behind the teacher’s desk etc. If using the school hall/gym, mark out a certain space such as half or a third of the hall. Make sure that the children do not cross these boundaries.
- Establish a stop signal for example a bell or a whistle. When the children hear this signal they will ‘freeze frame’.
- Insist on a ‘no talking rule’ unless you have instructed the children to do so. Encourage the children to be serious and that you expect quiet concentration. "Drama is not a noisy time, in fact it’s quieter than maths!"
- If the children are moving around in the space, state a direction of movement, for example clockwise.
- Establish a no touching rule unless the drama activities requires touching.