As we marvel at the boundless creativity of children, it's hard not to feel a little envious of their innate ability to conjure up magical worlds and play pretend. The fertile soil of their imagination seems to yield endless possibilities.
But as kids grow up, they often start to use their imaginations less, thanks to standardized schooling that encourages them to "keep it real."
Your child's speech and drama teachers at Head Held High, however, are on a mission to tend to this garden of imagination and keep that spark alive!
So, how do they nurture something as intangible as imagination? Let's explore.
Turning Games into Lessons in Imagination
Speech and drama teachers have a secret weapon: games!
Like hiding veggies in a tasty treat, these teachers infuse their games with learning experiences that build confidence, stage skills, techniques, teamwork, and, of course, imagination.
One popular method is "Story Drama," where students are immersed in imaginary worlds full of magical items, quests, and characters. This technique allows our students to dive headfirst into new realms, developing creative problem-solving and improvisation skills.
It's like turning the playful energy of "playing pretend" into an engaging classroom experience..
The Enchanting Power of Guided Mime
From the tiniest tots to the tallest teens, Guided Mime offers a magical journey into the depths of their imagination. Starting on the floor with eyes closed and music playing, the speech and drama teacher narrates an adventure, allowing students to explore their imaginative landscape safely and independently.
These narrations can vary from simple and open-ended, encouraging free exploration, to detailed and slow, engaging all the senses. The beauty of guided mime is that it feels like a fun game, captivating the hearts of students as they let their creativity run wild.
The Art of Improvisation
A cornerstone of fostering imagination in the speech and drama classroom is improvisation. While the mere mention of the "I-word" can strike fear into the hearts of students, when taught carefully and skillfully improvisation is an invaluable tool for nurturing creativity.
Instead of throwing students into the deep end, speech and drama teachers draw from a treasure trove of games that teach essential skills while adding extra fun.
From racing to think of animals with specific letters, to character games involving aliens and their translators, these exercises offer inventive ways to cultivate students' imaginations.
Conclusion
As our Kiwi kids grow and mature, holding onto their imagination becomes increasingly important. While we can't teach imagination, we can certainly help our students preserve and harness its full potential as they transition into adulthood.
After all, as Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."
