Recommended texts for classroom drama aged 7-12 include the following books, although objects photos and poetry can work just as well.
Picture Books
The Silver Sword by Ian Serrailler 5th/6th
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe by Penelope Lively 5th /6th
The Sea Monster by Chris Wormell
The Arrival by Shaun Tan 5th/6th
The Island by A. Gruder 5th/6th
The Gift of the Magi by O.Henry. Illust. by PJ Lynch 3/4/5/6
The Long March by Marie Louise Fitzpatrick 4/5/6
When Jessie came across the Sea by Amy Hest
The Green Children by Kevin Crossley Holland 3/4/5/6th
The Dolphin Boy 3/4/5
The Littel Match Girl ( story)
Young people's novels
Holes by Louis Sachar 5th/6th (boys in particular)
A series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket 4/5/6th
The Ruby Ring by Yvonne MacGrory4/5/6th
The Blue Horse by Marita Conlon McKenna 4/5/6th
Rose Meets Mr Wintergarten by Bob Graham
Private and Confidential by Marion Ripley 4/5/6th
The Watertower by Gary Crew 4/5/6th
Blodin the Beast by Michael Morpurgo
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo 5/6th
The Wreck of the Zanzibar by Michael Morpurgo 4/5/6th
Blue John by Berlie Doherty
The Garden by Gary Blythe
Mr Bear and the Bear by Ruth Brown
The Birdman by Melvin Burgess
The Voyage on the Great Titanic: The diary of Margaret Ann Brady by Ellen Emerson White 4/5/6th
Matilda by Roald Dahl 3/4/5/6th
The Sniper by Liam O'Flaherty ( 1916) 6th
No Peace for Amelia by Siobhan Parkinson ( a girl's experience in 1916) 5/6th
StarDancer by Morgan Llywelyn ( love of horses) 4/5/6th
Friday 26 February 2010
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Pretexts for developing Primary Drama
Pretexts to develop a drama for Primary School
Developing a Drama from a pretext
Colm Hefferon Nov ’09
Possibility A :A drama where the end is known.
Pupils in role as officers in a court-martial in World War one.Possibility B: We do not know what decision he will make. The end is not known.Ireland 1917It is 1917. Ireland has been promised Independence if she agrees to fight for England in the Great war against the German Empire.Gerry Ryan is 13 in sixth class and lives near an army barracks He is mad about army life. He feeds the horses there after school each day and dreams of being a bandsman in the Munster Fusiliers, his dad’s regiment. Gerry’s Dad Sgt. Michael Ryan died in the battle of the Somme in 1916. Gerry has just won a scholarship to a military school, he starts soon in Aldershot.His Mum tries to keep things going taking in sewing of uniforms ,but its never enough. She is always cheerful but worries about her son Charlie and his future. His sister works in Arnott’s half time and is going out with Tim from the Accounts department. His brother Shane and sister Eileen are very important to Gerry . Eileen has a beautiful singing voice, she won the Feis Cheoil in 1916 ,just before her Dad died and has not sung since. She has money saved to pay for lessons with the singer Count John Mc Cormack.He adores his elder brother, Shane, who is working on the Independent Newspaper. He also adores his younger brother Charlie who has a learning disability.Shane is going out with a girl called Máire whose father also lost his life along with the one million who died in the Somme. She does not believe the English that they will give Ireland freedom. She is learning Irish and works backstage in the Abbey theatre. Gerry sees them every evening as he walks home from Wellington Barracks. Shane and Máire walk along the Quays to her mam’s flat in Eden Place.Newspapers are full of the losses in France. More young men are needed and Shane feels he should join up. But Máire is not so sure.One morning on his 18th birthday, a letter arrives for Shane in the flat. In it is a white feather.What should he do?
Ways to structure your ideas:Charts
(1) KDS What you KNOWWhat you DON'T KNOWWhat you SUSPECT
Group Roles:Mentioned and unmentioned. Private and Public
(2) QUESTIONS
WOW Chart-WHO would have quesions to ask?OF WHOM would they be asked?
Worst case scenario in each case( WCS)Friends WCS/Fathers friends/Family WCS/Neighbours WCS-Suggested areas for exploration
1. Time: Before and after
2. Unexpected friends arrive- the twist
Bibliography
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo ( 11-14 yrs)
Its a long Way by Sebastian Barry.( Adult)
How Many miles to Babylon? Jennifer Johnston.
Developing a Drama from a pretext
Colm Hefferon Nov ’09
Possibility A :A drama where the end is known.
Pupils in role as officers in a court-martial in World War one.Possibility B: We do not know what decision he will make. The end is not known.Ireland 1917It is 1917. Ireland has been promised Independence if she agrees to fight for England in the Great war against the German Empire.Gerry Ryan is 13 in sixth class and lives near an army barracks He is mad about army life. He feeds the horses there after school each day and dreams of being a bandsman in the Munster Fusiliers, his dad’s regiment. Gerry’s Dad Sgt. Michael Ryan died in the battle of the Somme in 1916. Gerry has just won a scholarship to a military school, he starts soon in Aldershot.His Mum tries to keep things going taking in sewing of uniforms ,but its never enough. She is always cheerful but worries about her son Charlie and his future. His sister works in Arnott’s half time and is going out with Tim from the Accounts department. His brother Shane and sister Eileen are very important to Gerry . Eileen has a beautiful singing voice, she won the Feis Cheoil in 1916 ,just before her Dad died and has not sung since. She has money saved to pay for lessons with the singer Count John Mc Cormack.He adores his elder brother, Shane, who is working on the Independent Newspaper. He also adores his younger brother Charlie who has a learning disability.Shane is going out with a girl called Máire whose father also lost his life along with the one million who died in the Somme. She does not believe the English that they will give Ireland freedom. She is learning Irish and works backstage in the Abbey theatre. Gerry sees them every evening as he walks home from Wellington Barracks. Shane and Máire walk along the Quays to her mam’s flat in Eden Place.Newspapers are full of the losses in France. More young men are needed and Shane feels he should join up. But Máire is not so sure.One morning on his 18th birthday, a letter arrives for Shane in the flat. In it is a white feather.What should he do?
Ways to structure your ideas:Charts
(1) KDS What you KNOWWhat you DON'T KNOWWhat you SUSPECT
Group Roles:Mentioned and unmentioned. Private and Public
(2) QUESTIONS
WOW Chart-WHO would have quesions to ask?OF WHOM would they be asked?
Worst case scenario in each case( WCS)Friends WCS/Fathers friends/Family WCS/Neighbours WCS-Suggested areas for exploration
1. Time: Before and after
2. Unexpected friends arrive- the twist
Bibliography
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo ( 11-14 yrs)
Its a long Way by Sebastian Barry.( Adult)
How Many miles to Babylon? Jennifer Johnston.
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