Young children love to "make believe." Whether they are playing house or acting out a favorite story, children pretend in order to learn about themselves and the world around them. Dramatic play is a child's means of exploring the human experience.

As teachers, we can capitalize on our students' natural urge to pretend by infusing drama activities into our curricula. Because drama immediately engages a child's interest, it is a powerful tool for bringing subject matter to life.

Drama is beneficial because:

• It develops creativity, imagination and flexible thinking
• It requires concentration, focus, and attention to detail
  
• It develops the ability to communicate effectively through language and movement
• It encourages awareness of inner thoughts, feelings and values
  
• It builds self-esteem, confidence, and the ability to work with others

Some teachers may avoid drama because they equate it with the stress of putting on a play. The most powerful drama activities, however, can be very simple with no need for elaborate materials or memorization of lines. The drama activities below focus on the personal development of the students rather than on performing for an audience.

Try these simple activities with your students:

1. Dramatic Play:

In this most fundamental type of drama experience, you supply basic costume pieces (scarves, capes, hats, etc.) and props (empty boxes, rope, large fabric pieces) and allow the students to "play pretend" in any way they desire. You can suggest settings that relate to a curricular unit: a castle, an airport, or a dwelling from a specific culture.

2. Pantomime:

Young children enjoy the classic experience of "speaking without words." Try playing a guessing game where one child pantomimes a familiar activity -- planting a seed, for instance -- while the others try to guess what he or she is doing. Or, have the whole class pantomime a group activity, such as raking leaves or building a snowman.

3. Imaginary Journey:

Take your students on an imaginary journey that focuses on the five senses. Ask them to feel the wind in their hair, see birds flying overhead, hear the swish of tall grass, smell flowers, and taste fruits they pick along the way. You can relate the journey to your classroom studies - if your students are learning about the rain forest, for example, encourage them to imagine the sights sounds, smells, tastes and sensations they might encounter there.

4. Story Drama:

Read or tell a familiar story or folk tale. Briefly discuss how the story begins and ends, and what happens in the middle. Assign students to play particular characters in the story and have them "act it out", improvising their own words and actions. Repeat, with different students playing each character. It's fun to see how the story changes each time you play it.

Because students will move about and speak to one another during a drama lesson, classroom management can be challenging. But, as long as you set clear expectations and reinforce appropriate behavior, there is no need to fear loss of control. Remember: the more physically and emotionally involved your students are in an activity, the deeper and more long-lasting their learning will be.

When leading drama activities, your role will be that of a guide or facilitator, bringing forth your students' creative responses and encouraging each child to contribute fully. In drama, there is no one "right" way to do things. It is important to be open to the unexpected - to allow an activity to move in new, unplanned directions.

All you need to include drama in your curriculum are a few simple materials, a favorite story or two, and a willingness to be flexible and play along. Try the activities I've suggested, or create some of your own. Using drama in the classroom will spark your students' interest and curiosity, and lead them on a journey of self-discovery.